For months Melissa worked really hard on her paintings for the exhibition. Sometimes she seemed to live in a world of her own and Sabine started to feel neglected. Occasionally, when she was feeling very tired and needed to go to bed she left Melissa still working at her easel.

"I won't be long," she'd say. "I just want another hour on this one." The hour often turned into three as she lost all count of time.

Sabine was very glad when sometimes Melissa asked her to pose for some of the paintings when the photographs were not quite right or inadequate in some way. As least on those occasions she got some attention and they were able to chat together. As the date for the exhibition grew ever nearer, Melissa worked more energetically, sometimes feverishly, but was quite pleased with the quality of her work.

The canvases were stored in lines all around the bottom of the bedroom walls until they were dry. Then they were framed as Melissa had enough money to do so, and were stored face to face in piles.

But eventually Melissa decided she had enough paintings for the exhibition. Early one evening when Sabine was rather late returning, she found Melissa kneeling in their lounge surrounded by paintings arranged in groups around the walls and covering most of the furniture.

"Gosh, darling!" cried Sabine. "Are you having your own private exhibition?"

Melissa looked up at her and smiled. "You could say that," she replied. "It's private today, but next week it's going to be public."

She stood up, walked over to Sabine who was gazing around at the paintings, threw her arms around her and gave her the usual welcoming kiss. "And now I want you to give me your candid opinion of my exhibition. I've arranged the paintings in three sections, one for each room at the gallery. I've tried to arrange an increase in the eroticism as the exhibition route moves onward."

Sabine moved around smiling. "They are really good Melissa. I can see the development of your theme now the paintings are arranged. You are clever!"

They came to the last line of paintings. Melissa stood behind Sabine and put her arms around her. "And what do you think of my gorgeous nude model?" she asked.

Sabine blushed and giggled. "Wow! Some of these don't leave anything to the imagination do they? The back views are quite explicit but at least they don't show my face, but in those last three I'm showing everything, and they even look like me." She giggled again. "I do hope none of my friends see those."

Melissa laughed. "I've phoned the gallery and I have the weekend to put the paintings up ready for the opening on Monday evening. Will you help me, darling?"

Sabine put her hands on Melissa's shoulders and looked into her eyes. She looked much more relaxed now her work was finished. "Of course I will. For you - anything."

"Anything?"

"Absolutely!"

"I'll remind you of that later this evening." Their long sensual kiss sealed the bargain.

* * * * *

On Saturday morning both girls were up early to pack the paintings into Melissa's car. The passenger seat, both back seats and the boot were filled, and still there were more. Melissa stopped Sabine as she emerged carrying more paintings.

"No more room!" she said. "I'll take these into the gallery and then I'll come back for you and the rest of the paintings." With a bang of the car door she was off.

Half an hour later she returned breathless and excited. "The staff at the gallery think the paintings are great," she cried. "Oh, I'm so relieved. But they want a complete list of all the titles. They like to do a printed title at the side of each painting and they like them in their own house style. Can you load the rest Sabine while I get the list off my computer?"

Sabine had, very thoughtfully, already brought the rest of the paintings into the hallway near the door so it didn't take her long to load up the remaining paintings. As she took her seat in the car Melissa came dashing out with her list. She handed it to Melissa as she sat in the driver's seat.

The proprietor of the Trio Gallery, Louise, and her secretary, Miriam, helped the girls to sort out the paintings into the correct rooms leaving the receptionist to prepare the titles in between serving customers who called in. With four of them working at it they soon had all the paintings hanging in the first gallery then, after a quick coffee, they hung the remainder.

They walked slowly around the exhibition with many compliments from Louise and Miriam and a few silent blushes from Sabine. Melissa decided to swap a few of the paintings around for greater effect and then with a final sigh of satisfaction said, "Well, I think that's it. All we want now is for a lot of people to come to view the paintings."

"I'm very pleased on that score," said Louise. "Miriam sent the invitations out two weeks ago, and I included the names you suggested. We've had well over 50 acceptances. There'll probably be a few more on Monday morning and you always get some people who don't reply but just turn up."

"Oh, that's very encouraging," Sabine commented. She knew the great effort Melissa had put into the preparation for the exhibition and wanted it to be a success.

The four sat in the reception foyer as the final check was made on the titles. "What exactly will happen at the reception?" enquired Melissa.

"Well, I thought we'd have the usual cheese and wine and a few bits and pieces to eat," said Louise, "and then, when everyone has arrived I'll welcome everybody and introduce you, Melissa. But, as on this occasion the whole exhibition is entirely your work, I'd like you to say a few words of explanation. Tell them about your theme and a little bit about what they can expect to see in the galleries."

"That's a good idea," Melissa replied. "I'll just say something briefly about each gallery before they view the paintings."

"That should get things off to a good start," added Louise. "And then you can walk around mixing with the guests in case they want to ask any questions. Miriam will, of course, be here to deal with any sales. You don't have to worry about that."

Melissa then fixed Sabine with one of her qizzical smiles. "There's just something else I'd like to do Louise which, I think, might add some interest for the guests."

"I'm always open to ideas for the Trio. What did you have in mind?" Sabine started to feel nervous.

"I'd like to introduce my gorgeous, sexy model, Sabine to everyone." She made an extravagant sweeping gesture towards her with her outstretched arm. Sabine went bright red with embarrassment.

"Oh, Mel. . ." she started to blurt out. But she was cut short by the others who really fell for the idea.

"Great! Really great!"

"That'll add some interest!"

"That's settled then," said Melissa in obvious triumph. She looked towards the pillars at the side of the entrance to the galleries. "Mmmm. . . Yes, if we go up those steps at the side I can get Sabine to stand on top of the two pillars and I can stand behind her, slightly to the side and talk to everyone. It'll make a nice focal point."

Louise grew increasingly enthusiastic. "Wow! What a splendid idea. We've never done anything like that before."

Sabine saw the wicked gleam in Melissa's eye and a feeling of near panic seized her as her friend filled in the details of her plan. "I think it would be most appropriate to have her dressed in the Greek prisoner robe and wearing the mask, just like in some of the paintings."

This drew increasing cries of approbation from all the others - except Sabine - for such original thinking. "That's certainly something new," enthused Miriam. "You can be certain that they'll talk about it with their friends, so that'll give us extra publicity."

"And, as an added touch," said Louise, "we can use that spotlight above the entrance. We usually shine it on the door to the galleries, but if I raise it a bit it can be trained on Sabine so she'll show up better."

Louise beamed around at everyone. "That's it then. Refreshments and drinks, a welcome by me, a talk by Melissa and an introduction to the model. Sounds great to me. See you all nice and early on Monday evening.

* * * * *

On Monday evening, as soon as the girls had finished tea, Melissa disappeared into the bedroom and emerged carrying the cloak and bikini. "OK darling, come here," said Melissa.

Sabine hesitatingly approached her friend. "Oh, Melissa, do I have to wear the bikini? Can't I. . ." The words faded on her lips as Melissa gave her a meaningful glare.

"Sabine, whose exhibition is this?"

"Yours darling."

"So who's calling the shots?"

"You are Melissa."

"Right, so let's get on with it. Just do as I tell you." With that she started to unbutton Sabine's blouse. Soon she was standing before her completely naked. Melissa knew that Sabine loved this so she tweaked both her nipples between her thumb and finger. Instantly they were erect. Melissa gave a smile of satisfaction as she put the bikini top on and pulled the ties as hard as she could.

"Mmmmm. I like the way your nipples show through that pink satin. Very sexy!" She tied on the bottom of the bikini and then stood back. "Yes, very fetching indeed."

Melissa then covered Sabine with the serge cloak and fastened it at the back with the velcro straps. "I'm sure all the guests will be most impressed at such a gorgeous prisoner," said Melissa with great satisfaction.

"Don't forget the mask," said Sabine with urgency. "I don't want anyone to see my face."

Melissa gave a great loud laugh. "Your face! Your face! Oh, no, of course not. Something about Melissa's laugh made Sabine rather nervous about the idea of being dressed in her prisoner's outfit. She started to feel increasingly apprehensive and began to wonder what exactly Melissa had in mind.

* * * * *

The two girls arrived early at the Trio Gallery, Melissa excited and smartly dressed in an off-the-shoulder peasant blouse, mini-skirt and high-heels, and Sabine, rather apprehensive, in her prisoner's cloak with the pink bikini underneath.

They were greeted with enthusiasm by Louise, Miriam and two part-time members of the staff who had been invited to attend the opening.

"I've moved the spot light to shine above the door," said Louise. "Would you like to stand in position to see how it looks?"

Melissa led Sabine up the short flight of curved steps at the side of the pillar. There was a small platform behind the tops of the two pillars and in front of it two recesses, one atop each pillar.

Melissa stood to the side of the platform to allow Sabine to move to the front. "Go on, put your feet in those recesses," ordered Melissa.

Sabine moved hesitantly forward to try out her footholds. "They're not very big Melissa. I can only get one foot in each. Why can't I. . ."

Melissa cut her short. "Look Sabine, I'm organising this. Just do it. Put one foot in each recess so you're astride the doorway. I'll hold your hands while you do it. You won't fall. I'll be very close behind you."

Sabine grudgingly stepped into position while Melissa held her hands behind her back. Melissa moved around on the platform. "That's OK darling. I can look over your shoulder to speak to the people. I'll have a good view of them from up here. How do we look Louise?"

She looked up. "That's fine. The light will catch both of you. That's most effective. I've just had a thought. Why don't you and Sabine stay inside the doorway of the gallery out of sight while everyone is arriving and then, when I introduce you, Melissa, you can make an entrance. Then you can introduce Sabine and she can come out. It'll add a bit of drama."

"That means we'll miss out on all the wine and refreshments," Sabine blurted out. Everyone laughed.

"Don't worry about that," replied Louise. "We'll bring in a tray for you. You won't miss out on anything."

With that Melissa and Sabine sauntered into the first gallery and stood just inside the door. Soon Miriam came in carrying a tray of refreshments and a bottle of wine. "Go easy on the wine girls," she said with a smile. "Don't want you falling off your perch."

Melissa was glad of a short time to wander around the galleries with Sabine just to make sure everything was in order.

"I like their title cards," said Sabine running her finger across the one.

"Yes, they're very good," agreed Melissa. "I just hope a lot of them will get red spots before the end of the week."

"Red spots?" queried Sabine. "What do you mean?"

"Well, when someone buys a painting they put a red spot on the title card so that everyone will know that the painting is sold."

Sabine giggled. "Neat idea," she said. "I hope all the galleries look like they've got measles in a few days' time."

The girls kept peeping out from time to time to see how many guests had arrived. By the time of the opening there were well over 50 and there was a buzz of excitement as people drank their wine and chatted.

A short while later Louise put her head around the door. "OK girls, the foyer's quite packed. Are you ready for your introductions?"

"Absolutely ready," claimed Melissa confidently."

"Well, as ready as we'll ever be," muttered Sabine.

Melissa walked over to her bag and took two items out. One was the papier-mache drama mask which she handed to Sabine. "Here you are darling. Put this on ready."

Sabine grabbed it eagerly. "Oh, yes. It'll be much easier being an anonymous model," she said with a giggle.

Melissa moved nearer the door as she heard the babble of conversation subside. She listened to Louise's voice making her welcoming speech. Then the words she was waiting for: "And it is with great pleasure that I introduce our exhibiting artist, Melissa."

As she walked out to face the guests, Melissa was thrilled to see the foyer room packed with guests. They applauded her entrance as she stood on the bottom step near the pillar to make her brief speech of welcome.

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen for coming along this evening. It's good to see so many. There are three galleries so you'll have plenty of room to move about. Before you move into the galleries I'd like to explain a bit about the theme I have chosen. As you will have seen on the posters, it's called "The Prisoner", but before saying anything about the paintings I would like to introduce you to my model." She waved her hand dramatically to the side and out walked Sabine in her cloak and mask. There was further applause.

Melissa stood aside to allow Sabine to mount the steps in front of her. She held her hands behind her back as she stepped forward astride the doorway on the pillars. Then Sabine felt two clicks on her wrists as Melissa handcuffed her hands behind her back.

"Mel...Melissa? What are you d..d..doing?" hissed Sabine into the mask.

There was no answer from Melissa. Instead she started to address the crowd below. "I decided to interpret the theme "The Prisoner" in an erotic way and in three distinct stages, increasing the eroticism as each stage progresses." There were excited murmurs of approval from the crowd at this news.

A voice cried out from below: "Do you mind if we take photographs?"

"Of course not," replied Melissa. "Take as many as you like, and be sure to show them to your friends so that they'll come to the exhibition." There was laughter at this and an odd flash or two as some of the guests began to take photographs.

As Melissa developed her theme she spoke about the rough cloak and the conditions of the prisoners. She had the full attention of the people below. Sabine, for her part scanned the faces of the crowd to see whether she knew anyone. Suddenly she stiffened. Oh no! She could see Joyce, her boss from the office where she worked. Sabine was very thankful that she was wearing a mask that completely covered her face.

She scanned the crowd further. Yes, just behind Joyce stood Cynthia and Jessica from the copy department; and horror of horrors, just behind them she could clearly make out the face of young Jimmy who'd just joined the accounts department - and he was standing next to his boss, Adrian.

As Melissa continued with her explanation of the paintings Sabine started to wonder why all those people from work had come to the exhibition. As far as she knew they were not particularly interested in art. Suddenly she remembered the words of Louise when she was speaking to Melissa: "I included the names you suggested." Sabine suddenly realised that it must have been Melissa who had arranged this. But why? What was she planning?

Her thoughts were interrupted at that point by a ripping noise behind her. With thoughts approaching panic she realised that Melissa had opened several of the velcro straps holding her loose shapeless cloak together at the back. Sabine wondered why she should do this. She soon found out as she felt Melissa's hand wandering around her bare skin under the cloak. As she spoke to the guests about the topless paintings her hand pushed up under the bikini top and caressed Sabine's breasts and tweaked her nipples. Sabine's closed eyes and gasps were all hidden by the mask as Melissa's hands meandered lower to the bottom of the bikini, entering it and sliding between her model's legs. Normally Sabine absolutely loved Melissa doing this but she felt that now was neither the time nor the place. She wondered what she was about to do. She didn't have long to wait.

Melissa then went on to describe the pictures in the second gallery. . . "Where the model will look like this." With those words she undid the remaining straps and whipped the cloak off Sabine, leaving her standing in full view of the crowd clad only in her very brief and tight pink satin bikini. Melissa's wandering fingers had done their work on her nipples and they strained at the shining material. Sabine glanced down and could see them standing out.

The crowd were delighted at this and there was a loud babble of conversation, a few whistles and a barrage of camera flashes as the visitors took full advantage of their opportunity. Sabine, now perspiring freely beneath her mask looked down to see her boss and young Jimmy busy with their cameras. She felt embarrassed and humilated at her treatment but, with her hands secured behind her back, there was nothing she could do about it. More than ever she was thankful for the mask as the crowd below stood gazing upwards at her spread before them.

Melissa's next words struck unmitigated horror and apprehension into Sabine; a cold clammy hand seemed to clutch at her stomach as she heard them. "And now we come to the third gallery which displays the nude prisoner." Surely Melissa would never . . . Her mind was in turmoil. She wouldn't. Not in front of all these people.

She felt Melissa's hand caressing her butt out of sight of everyone in the crowd, then real panic set in as she felt the hand start to slide up her naked back towards the straps of her bikini top. Was she going to . . .? Would she . . .? Surely not. Sabine tried to turn around to whisper to Melissa. "Please don't take my top off. Not here Melissa. No Pleeeeze!"

But the relentless journey of Melissa's hand continued onto the strap dangling from the tied bow which held her top tight against her chest. She felt a tightening of the strap then a sudden release as the bow was undone and hung loosely on her, supported only by the second bow at the back of her neck.

Melissa's hand continued its upward journey. A tightening of the strap again, then that horrible loose feeling, the dread of which only a woman can know. A flick of Melissa's wrist completed the exposure and Sabine was left with her breasts completely exposed to all those eyes and that barrage of camera flashes.

The hubbub of conversation suddenly died to absolute silence. It was not only Sabine who was filled with apprehension. Everyone in the room was asking themselves the same question. Would Melissa do it or wouldn't she? For Sabine the next few seconds seemed like hours as she mentally willed Melissa not to take the bottom of her bikini off.
She felt Melissa's lips close to her ear whispering almost silently. "Remember, darling, in gallery three you are a nude model. And nude means wearing absolutely nothing." Sabine's face felt on fire. No! She wouldn't actually do it. Not here. No.

Then she felt both Melissa's hands come into play as she took hold of both the side-tie strings and pull them out to the side. Sabine felt them pull away from her hips and tighten. She thought Melissa was teasing her. As the bow snapped apart Sabine felt the back drop down but not the front. Was Melissa just holding it in front and not releasing it? Was she teasing her.

She bent over to look in front of her. It was her undoing! The heavy papier-mache mask slid forward over her head and went clattering down onto the floor below. There was immediate pandemonium amongst the assembled guests. Not only was their model standing naked, shaved and with her legs spread wide, they could also see who she was.

For a second the eyes of Sabine and her work colleagues were riveted across the space between them in unbelief. Then there ensued laughter and pointing as she heard her name again and again: "It's Sabine. . ." "Look! Sabine. . ." "Sabine. . ." "Sabine. . ." For her it was the acme of humiliation. It was her dread - to be seen totally naked by people who knew her. She just stood there in total embarrassment as over a hundred eager eyes wandered all over her nude body. For those with cameras the opportunities were endless as Sabine was photographed from every conceivable angle.

The smiling Louise invited all the guests to pass through the doors into the first gallery and, as Melissa made no attempt to let Sabine come down from the top of the pillars, this meant everyone walking between her legs on the way to the door. The opportunity to look up as they did so was not lost on most of the crowd, especially those wielding cameras.

Sabine could just imagine the hilarity that would result tomorrow in work when the photographs of her were shown around.

When the final guest had passed through, Sabine gave a sigh of relief. "Oh, Melissa, that was dreadful. I have never been so humiliated before."

"Nonsense, darling," returned Melissa giggling. "I suspect you really enjoyed it."

"Enjoyed it! Enjoyed it! Please. . . just take off these handcuffs and let me get dressed."

Melissa gave a little giggle again. "Ah, yes, now there is something I want to do before we talk about that," and gathering up the cloak, the bikini and then walking down to pick up the mask which someone had placed on the bottom step, she took them to the reception console and locked them in a drawer.

"What are you doing with those?" cried Sabine.

Melissa mounted the steps and helped Sabine onto the platform. "Now darling, I want you to walk around and chat with our guests and get them interested in the paintings."

"What like this? Naked! You don't mean . . ."

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I want you to walk around chatting to the crowd - just as you are."

"Oh Melissa I can't do that. I'll feel so . . ."

"You are going to do it," insisted Melissa. "Now, do you want me to remove those handcuffs while you do it, or not?"

Sabine knew she had little choice with Melissa in one of her bossy moods. "Oh, alright then. I can at least cover myself with my hands."

"Oh no! Indeed not!" remonstrated Melissa. If I take off your handcuffs I want you to promise that you'll keep your hands by your sides all the time you are chatting. And remember, they've seen everything you've got now. You can't show them anything more." She sniggered again at Sabine's plight.

The two joined the moving throng who were looking intently at the paintings. A few seemed surprised that Sabine was still nude and some of the younger girls looked rather embarrassed about it.

The guests were all very friendly towards both Sabine and Melissa congratulating them effusively on their joint work. Even Sabine started to smile at the way she was received by them all. Her work colleagues gathered around her in a tight enthusiastic group full of congratulations at her ability as a model and at her bravery for doing what she had just done.

Young Jimmy lost no time in photographing the whole group from the office with Sabine in the centre. Then he insisted on someone else taking a photograph so that he could stand next to his nude colleague.

The chatting grew louder and, by the time they reached the third gallery the excitement was almost tangible. Melissa and Sabine were the toast of the show.

Young Jimmy's camera worked non-stop photographing all the nude paintings and getting Sabine to pose as she did in the paintings so that he could take a photograph of the painting and the model.

Sabine had grown used to walking around naked by now and was able to smile quite amicably to the guests who asked her questions about the paintings. She wasn't put off when Joyce came beside her as she was looking at one of the more flagrant paintings and put her arm around her. "I do like the way Melissa has made the most of your erect nipples Sabine. That's a very sexy painting."

It was as Melissa and Sabine were chatting that Miriam came to join them carrying a clipboard. "Great news girls! Eight paintings have been sold already. I've got to get busy with the red spots now." Melissa, in great excitement at the news, threw her arms around Sabine and kissed her.

"Oops!" she exclaimed. "Perhaps I shouldn't have done that here and in your present state of undress. Other people might try it."

"Some have already come close to it," Sabine replied with a smile. "I'm getting used to wandering around naked in a crowd of clothed people and pushing between groups."

Gradually the crowd thinned out as the guests left, many of them having a word of appreciation with Sabine and Melissa before they did so. Eventually only the gallery staff and the two girls remained. Miriam totted up the sales on her clipboard list. "Twelve paintings already sold," she proclaimed. "I think that's a record for an opening Louise."

Louise smiled broadly at the two girls. She was most grateful for a splendid exhibition and gave both of them a tremendous hug of thanks.

Melissa smiled at Sabine. "Well, unless you want to travel home in the nude, I suppose I'd better let you have your clothes back."

On the way home in the car Sabine was rather quiet wondering whether she'd be able to face all those people in work tomorrow. She voiced her thoughts to Melissa who commented "Darling they all enjoyed it and praised your bravery. When all the others have had a laugh at some of the photographs that were taken I'm sure they'll forget all about it."

"I thought I might phone in sick," said Sabine gloomily.

"That will only put off your return, darling."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. I noticed that Joyce was very friendly. She patted my bottom as she stood next to me to have our photographs taken."

"So I noticed," replied Melissa. "I felt quite jealous when I saw her do it. I thought she might be fancying you."

Sabine smiled at her. "Darling! I like you being jealous," she replied. "OK. I'll definitely go to work tomorrow. Her mind was made up, but she might have changed it if she had known what her boss was going to ask her to do the following day.