Free Pleasure Cruise by Mandy M. Roth, Michelle M. Pillow

Clare’s side. “That toy really yours?”
    “No,” Clare answered weakly.
    “Liar!” Kira laughed, falling back on the bed. “You know, I didn’t get the creep vibe off of Dominik. He actually seemed… calm. Considering he thought you were in his room by mistake, any misunderstanding can be reasonably explained.”
    Clare was used to her friend’s ways and didn’t pay any attention. Kira was like a piranha when she sensed vulnerability and Clare didn’t want to give her any bait. The dildo was most certainly hers, but saying that aloud was so against her nature that she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
    “I am so proud of you, Clare. Though I wish you would’ve told me you were in the market for a vibrator. I know where all the best ones are sold. I’ve got a few sources who call me when new toys come in and I’m always getting them at bargain prices. I got a great deal on a Super-Stimulator 9000 just the other day. In fact… hold on!”
    Clare frowned as Kira ran to her room. She contemplated locking the door before her friend came back. If Kira brought that voyeur back into the room with her, she’d kill her.
    When Kira came back, she handed Clare a birthday present and tossed a pair of dress shoes on the bed. Luckily, they wore the same size. The wrapping paper had naked men dancing on it. Clare chuckled. Only Kira!
    “Dare I ask?” Clare mused. The present was too small to be a male, unless he came deflated. The thought was funny, to a point. Kira had tried to convince her to get a blow up doll to help her gain access to the car pool lane once before, so it wouldn’t surprise her if she actually carried through on her threat.
    “It doesn’t need a pump to work, does it?”
    Kira laughed. “Well, pumping could very well be involved. Just open it!”
    “I’m almost too afraid.” Clare sighed and tore back the paper to reveal the bold packaging of a Super-Stimulator 9000. She didn’t need to look in a mirror to know her cheeks were bright pink. How could they not be? She was sure she’d never seen a real man quite the size of the new toy she held. If they did come that big, then she was in serious trouble, because there was no way that would fit in her.
    “Hey, it was going to be a birthday gag gift of sorts, but now that I know you’ll use it, I’m glad I picked the extra one up.” Kira winked, looking very pleased. “Don’t worry. It’s great.”
    “Uh, thanks?” Clare hastily interrupted to stop Kira’s graphic details. She was sure she didn’t want to know what Kira had done the night before. From past experience, she knew Kira would tell her everything .
    Clare desperately needed to change the subject from her lack of a sex life. It was getting to be beyond pathetic. The best action she had in a year was from a showerhead, and now her best friend was giving her self-pleasuring toys. If the ship didn’t sink soon, she didn’t know how she’d possibly live with the humiliation. It’d just be her luck that the ship really would sink and, when they recovered her dead body, they’d find that damn dildo with her, forever immortalizing her pathetic sexless existence.
    “What happened with Dominik?” Kira asked.
    “I don’t know. Room mix-up. I think he thought I was his cabin girl. I…” Clare hesitated. “You’re going to laugh, but I really think I do know Dominik from somewhere. I know, I know, it sounds insane. I haven’t met him before today, but I know him. Haven’t you just looked at someone and felt as if you knew everything about them? Maybe we’re just overworked. We both seem to have the same problem.”
    “You know.” Kira sat up and pulled her robe closed, cinching the belt tighter at her waist. “Maybe hooking up isn’t such a bad idea. That cutie you found looked to be packing—”
    “Ah!” Clare waved her hands. There Kira went again, changing the subject when things got too uncomfortable emotionally. Clare swore half the things Kira said were to