Chapter 1

 

The roar of applause was almost deafening. It echoed around the hall, reaching crescendo after crescendo, and for a while it seemed as if it was never going to stop. Some of those watching covered their ears to blot out the din. But it was music to Miranda's ears. She stood before the throng of men letting the noise of their appreciation wash over her, her eyes half closed, her expression one of pure ecstasy.

This was Miranda's raison d'etre. To her there was nothing like the plaudits of a satisfied audience ringing in her ears. The most gratifying thing she knew was to stand before a crowd and be the centre of attention. The experience was almost mystical, and appealed to the basest of her instincts. She felt her heart swell with gratification as she gazed back at the cheering crowd.

The applause continued for fully five minutes before beginning at last to fade. As it did so, the stage lights were slowly dimmed and the band began to play a popular melody. Then the curtain dropped and Miranda was alone. She took a deep breath. Her body was still tingling with pleasure and she barely heard the congratulations of Paula as she moved in beside her.

"Great show Miranda. They absolutely loved it. Mr Preston wants to see you right away. I guess he's pretty pleased."

"What?" Miranda shook her head. "What were you saying?"

"You didn't hear a word, did you?" grinned Paula. "Once you get up on that stage in front of all those people, you're in a world of your own. I've never seen anyone who gets so turned on by standing up in front of a crowd of folks."

"Don't be silly," replied Miranda, blushing. "It doesn't turn me on. It's just a nice feeling that's all."

"Well the expression on your face looked pretty close to a girl having an orgasm to me."

Miranda's cheeks went a still deeper red and she turned away, afraid that her expression would betray her thoughts. The fact was that Paula had voiced something that she had been trying to deny to herself for some time. It was true, receiving such an accolade was almost as pleasurable as an orgasm. In fact it had been a substitute for an orgasm to her for more than two years. She didn't even masturbate any more, let alone have a lover. The applause seemed enough, for the time being at least.

All at once she realised Paula was staring at her. She struggled to clear her mind and return to her normal, business-like manner.

"Come on," she said, "We've got a lot of clearing up to do."

"Not before you've seen Mr Preston."

"What? he wants to see me? Why didn't you say so?"

"I did," replied Paula, laughing. "You were still in the throes of self-gratification."

But Miranda wasn't listening. She was already on her way to Preston's office.

Miranda Cousins was twenty - two years old, and was a success. The public relations company for which she worked, Expo Promotions, was one of the most sought after in the business, and she was considered to be one of its greatest assets.

She had started with the company as a secretary three years before, with a burning desire to make her name, and had soon persuaded her boss that she was good for more than just typing. After a few months she began to take on more serious jobs.

At first it had been small stuff, designing logos and commissioning promotion material. Her first full - scale product launch had been a relatively minor affair held in a provincial hotel. But it had been extremely well received and had brought her to the notice of a number of larger companies. Then she had landed the Preston account almost single - handedly. Since then she had never looked back, and the name of Expo Promotions had become a byword for quality and value.

Her rise through the company had been nothing short of meteoric, bringing her to the position she now held, Senior Executive. Since then, her work had become everything to her, and she had let nothing come between her and it, hence the absence of any kind of sex life for so long.

It was with a light step, therefore, that she made her way to Preston's office. The Preston Corporation was a vast company and this particular section, Preston Leisure, was huge in itself. Today's launch of their latest multi - media entertainment centres had been a new departure in her commissions from them, and had gone even better than she had expected. Now Preston wanted to speak to her himself.

That was a rare honour. Ernest Preston was one of the richest and most powerful men in the country, and did not often grant audiences to anyone. In all the time she had been involved with his company she had only seen him once, a shadowy figure that had hurried across the entrance hall of his plush headquarters and disappeared into his private lift with not so much as a nod to those around him.

Now she was to meet him in person at last.

Miranda slipped into the Ladies' and stopped in front of the full - length mirror, checking her appearance. She examined herself critically, brushing imaginary dust from her clothes and patting her already immaculate hair into place. She saw in the mirror an exceptionally beautiful young woman. Her hair was dark, and normally hung down to her shoulders, though today she wore it up in a severe bun in a deliberate attempt to appear business-like. Her face was classically pretty, with dark green eyes above which fluttered long lashes. She dropped her gaze to her breasts, which pressed hard against the fabric of her blouse. Her waist was trim and her hips full, though not too broad, giving her the sort of figure that turned heads wherever she went. Even now, clad in the sort of sensible business suit that she always wore for such events, there was no doubting her sex appeal.

With a final glance at herself, she pushed open the door and headed down the corridor.

Two minutes later, Miranda strode into Preston's outer office. His secretary looked up and smiled as she recognised her.

"Hello, Miss Cousins," she said. I hear the launch went very well."

Miranda returned the smile. "Thanks Marie. They certainly seemed to like it."

"I'll just let Mr Preston know you're here." The girl rose to her feet and crossed the room to a large oak door. Miranda couldn't help watching her as she strolled across the carpet, her pert behind wriggling provocatively inside her tight mini dress.

Marie knocked on the door, then opened it.

"Miss Cousins to see you," she said.

"Good, send her in," boomed a voice from within.

Marie held the door open and waved Miranda inside. Then she closed it behind her.

The first thing that struck Miranda on entering Preston's office was its sheer size. Preston seemed a mile away, perched behind a massive wooden desk. Beside him on the wall was an array of flickering video screens, each showing a different image. The lights in the room were soft, and the contrast with the brightness of the screens was stark.

Preston rose and indicated a pair of easy chairs by the window.

"Take a seat," he said. His voice was loud, and carried the confidence of one used to being obeyed.

Miranda padded across the thick carpet and seated herself in the soft leather armchair.

"Drink?" he asked. He pulled open the doors of an elegant antique cabinet, revealing rows of bottles and glasses inside.

"Scotch please sir," replied Miranda.

"How do you like it girl?"

"On the rocks please sir."

"I like a girl with a taste for scotch," he chuckled. "I've got a twenty year old malt here that I think might amuse you."

A handful of ice cubes tinkled into a glass, followed by the sound of the whisky being poured. Then he handed Miranda the cut glass crystal tumbler and sat down opposite her. Miranda sipped her drink. The spirit was smooth and warming and she nodded her head in approval.

"Mmm. very nice," she said.

He smiled. "I thought you'd like it. I've got a whole crate downstairs."

"But I'm sure you didn't invite me here just to discuss whisky, Mr Preston."

"His smile broadened. "Precisely," he said. Time's money eh?"

"Yes sir."

"Right then, down to business. That was quite a show you put on out there. Best product launch I ever saw."

Miranda inclined her head. "Well, that's what you're paying me for sir. Besides, a good product is always easier to sell, and from what I can see, you've got a pretty good product here."

"Thanks," he replied. We aim to make Preston Leisure the biggest and the best in the world. That's part of the reason why I wanted to talk to you. I think I may be able to put a bit more business your way."

"What kind of business sir? You seem to have a foothold in just about everything"

"That's almost true. We reckon we've penetrated most branches of the mainline leisure industry. We've got gyms, cinemas, swimming pools, casinos, you name it. If people want to do it then we can meet the need."

"So what's left?" asked Miranda, intrigued.

"Sex."

"Sex?"

"That's right."

"I don't understand."

"That's why I've brought you here. To explain. Take a look at that monitor screen,. The one at the bottom on the left."

Miranda rose to her feet and strode across to the bank of screens. Each one showed an area of the leisure complex. On one, two men were playing tennis, another showed a crowded bar, whilst on a third she could see a swimming pool filled with people.

"It's just people playing sport," she said.

"I said look at the one at the bottom left."

Miranda concentrated on the one that Preston had indicated, and all at once her interest was rekindled.

The camera was obviously mounted at the back of a large bar or restaurant. The room was dimly lit, but at each table she could make out figures seated facing a small stage. As she watched, spotlights were switched on and she saw the figure of a young woman standing centre stage. She was dressed in a short black silky skirt, with a top to match, leaving her midriff bare. Her legs were clad in black fishnet stockings which were held up by suspenders that projected below the hem of the skirt. There was no sound on the monitor, but as Miranda watched the girl began to gyrate slowly, and she guessed that there was music playing. Miranda turned and looked questioningly at Preston, who had joined her by the screens.

"Striptease," he said. "A minor form of titillation, but one that is at least legal in this country."

Striptease! Miranda knew such things went on in some of the less salubrious Soho clubs, but she had never seen it, and certainly hadn't expected to find it in one of Preston's up - market establishments.

"It's a new venture," he explained. "Naturally it's not explicitly advertised in the brochures. We rely on other publications to publicise it. We use a completely separate entrance to the building. Some of the punters aren't even aware they're in a Preston centre at all."

But Miranda was barely listening. Her eyes were fixed on the figure on the monitor screen as it swayed back and forth. The thought that the young woman she was watching was about to strip off in front of all those people bore a strange fascination for her, and she found her heart beginning to beat faster as she watched the girl start unbuttoning her top.

"Would you like to go down and see the show for yourself?" asked Preston suddenly.

"Yes sir. I mean no. That is I..." Miranda, unusually, was lost for words. She desperately did want to go and see the show, but she wasn't sure why. She knew that she should be repelled by this exploitative art, but somehow she simply found herself fascinated by the whole idea.

"Come on," said Preston.

He led her through a door behind his desk into what appeared to be a small cubicle. As she stepped inside, Miranda realised with surprise that it was a private lift. Preston pushed one of the buttons on the wall and the doors slid silently shut. With a faint whir they began to descend.

Preston smiled at her. "One of my little secrets," he said. "I'm able to gain access to almost any part of this building by a series of lifts, corridors and concealed doors. That way I can keep a close eye on what's going on in here."

The lift came to a halt and the doors opened. They stepped out into a narrow passage, thickly carpeted and lit by discreet wall lamps. The passage was long, occasionally branching to the right and left. Preston set off, clearly familiar with where he was going, and Miranda followed him as he threaded his way through the labyrinth.

At last they came to a halt outside a door. Miranda could hear the strains of music from behind it, and the volume of sound intensified as Preston pushed it open.

Miranda stepped through and gazed about her. They were on a small balcony, like an opera box, looking down on the room she had seen on the video screen. Below them were tables packed with customers, mostly men, though she could see a sprinkling of women. All eyes were directed toward the brightly - lit stage on which the girl was still dancing. Miranda noted with mild shock that she had discarded the top and skirt and was divesting herself of her only remaining stocking. As she cast the wisp of nylon apart she was left wearing just black underwear.

Preston motioned Miranda to a seat and she took it, her eyes fixed on the stage.

The girl continued a slow, provocative dance about the stage, blowing kisses to the crowd as she strutted back and forth. Miranda was fascinated by her confident, almost arrogant manner, which belied her semi - nudity. She would shimmy down to the very edge of the stage and stand gazing down at her audience, swaying her body back and forth so that her breasts shook, a motion that brought cheers from the crowd. Then she would turn her back on them, her backside betraying a swagger as she returned to the centre. Miranda was spellbound at the sight she made, and the blatancy of her actions.

All at once Miranda's heart leapt as she saw the girl reach for the catch on her bra. She was actually going to bare her breasts to this room full of strangers! Miranda's fingers strayed towards her own chest as she watched in breathless anticipation.

The bra came undone in a single movement, the straps falling away from her shoulders as the girl grasped the cups in her hands, holding them to her chest. She began making small circular movements, as if stimulating herself. Miranda was surprised to feel her own nipples harden as she watched.

The girl danced on, still apparently reluctant to relinquish her bra, despite the catcalls from the audience. There was a sense of tension in the air and Miranda found herself leaning forward in her seat, barely able to breathe as she waited for the stripper's next move, as anxious as the men below to see the girl's charms.

All at once the girl turned her back on the crowd and, with a single movement, threw the bra aside. She stood for a few seconds with her hands on her hips, facing the back of the stage, apparently in no hurry to turn towards the crowd. Miranda was impressed. There was no doubt that the girl had her audience in the palm of her hand, and was determined to extract every ounce of benefit from the situation before finally baring her all.

Suddenly the girl swung round, and another cheer went up as her breasts were revealed for the first time. They were large and firm, the nipples erect from the rubbing they had received. The girl began to move her hips back and forth, and her creamy globes bounced up and down delightfully to the rhythm of the music.

"Enjoying it?"

The voice at her ear made Miranda jump. She had almost forgotten where she was, such was her fascination with the young stripper. She realised suddenly that she was sitting right on the edge of her seat, and that she was panting slightly.

"I - I beg your pardon sir?" she stammered.

"I asked if you were enjoying it?"

"Er... yes, I mean no. Well I..."

He moved closer to her, so that she caught a whiff of his expensive aftershave.

"You seem to be breathing rather heavily," he said.

"I - I think it's the heat."

"Are you sure it's not something else?"

He brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, then let his fingers stray down her face and neck. She stiffened slightly as she felt him run his hand down over her blouse and squeeze her breast through the thin material. Then he reached for the button at her neck.

"No sir," she said, quietly.

"Just enjoy it girl."

"But I..."

"Do as you're told."

He undid the top four buttons on her blouse and pulled it open. Inside the fullness of her breasts bulged temptingly from her skimpy uplifting bra. He reached for them, his fingers squeezing underneath the lacy material and feeling the hardness of her nipple.

"But sir! Please!."

"Just enjoy girl."

She gave a sharp intake of breath as he touched her there, the first man to do so for longer than she could remember, but her eyes never left the near naked figure sliding provocatively across the stage below.

"What is it about the girl?" he murmured to her as his fingers continued to fondle her breasts.

I - I don't know sir," she stammered, blushing. "It's just that it's such a public place to be stripping off."

"Would you like to strip on stage?"

"Of course not."

With a deft movement he slid his hand up under her skirt. She made to close her legs, but already his fingers were against the gusset of her panties.

"Stop sir! She cried, but he ignored her pleas.

"You want it don't you girl?"

"No sir."

"Then why are your knickers so wet?"

"I - I don't know," she said again. "You mustn't touch me like that. It's not... Oh!"

She gave a little cry as he slid his hand inside the leg of her panties and she felt his fingers on the lips of her sex. He moved his arm round her neck, partly to hold her in the seat, partly so that he could slide his other hand down her bra once more. As he did so the girl on the stage began to tuck her fingers into the waistband of her own panties, and Miranda realised she was about to discard them.

Preston worked his way up her slit, his fingers sliding easily over its wet surface. She knew he was feeling for her clitoris, and knew also that she wanted him to find it. Years of suppressed sexuality had made her forget the pleasure of a man's touch, but now he was reminding her of what she had been missing, and a new desire overcame her. She opened her legs in a gesture that betrayed her abandonment to his touch, then gave a suppressed cry as his fingers found her love bud.

He began to rub her, gently but expertly, working his fingers back and forth whilst his other hand continued to knead her breasts. Miranda's mind was a whirl. It was as if she was a teenager again, sitting in the back row of the cinema whilst some boy squirmed his way into her underwear. But this was no boy. His touch was deft and he knew precisely how to arouse her. And the sight in front of her was not some Hollywood epic, but a young, nubile woman who was about to divest herself of the last of her garments in front of a roomful of lustful men.

Miranda began to pant aloud as his fingers did their work. She looked down at the people below and wondered for a moment if they could see what was being done to her. But she was beyond caring now. All that mattered was the sight of the shameless girl below and the delicious feeling between her legs.

"Oh!"

His fingers had slid deep into her vagina, and despite herself she spread her legs even wider, thrusting her hips forward as she gave herself up to her lust.

Down on the stage, the stripper turned her back on her audience once more and Miranda knew the moment of total exposure had come. As she watched the girl hook her thumbs into her panties, Miranda imagined that it was her down there, baring her all to the crowd. The thought of it thrilled her still further and she felt her orgasm approach.

The girl slipped the briefs down her body, revealing a lovely, rounded backside, the cheeks smooth and pert. As she bent over to remove the lacy garment they parted, affording her audience a brief glimpse of her anus.

She straightened and lifted her right leg, holding the panties in her toes for a moment. Then she kicked them aside and stood, still facing tantalisingly away from the watchers. Miranda felt as if time had stopped as she watched. The blood was pounding in her ears now and her backside was slapping up and down on the seat as she thrust herself against Preston's hand.

Then, with a sudden movement, the stripper spun round to face her audience. She placed her hands on her hips and, bending her legs slightly at the knee, she thrust her sex forward, the pink slit glistening under the harsh lights.

That was enough for Miranda. With a gasp she climaxed, the juices flowing from her as she moaned with the exquisite pleasure of the moment. Preston held her at her peak for what seemed an endless time, his fingers rubbing against her as she hung rigid, her backside clear of the seat, pushing her hips up against the fingers that were giving her such delight.

For a full minute Miranda remained as she was, her whole body aflame with passion. Then she was coming down, lowering her backside slowly onto her seat as her panting subsided

When she opened her eyes the stage was dark and the girl was gone. She turned to Preston, who had withdrawn his hands and was sitting smiling at her dishevelled state. She blushed and began to pull her skirt down over her knees.

"I think you're going to enjoy your new project," he smiled. "Shall we go back to my office?"

Struggling to fasten her blouse, Miranda followed Preston out, and back to the lift.