Mate Cruise: Book 2 🌶️🌶️

This is Book 2 in the Mate Cruise short story series but can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

Content Warning: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book contains more explicit spice and sexual content than my previous books. Readers should be aware that the story includes frequent and detailed intimate scenes.

Please read at your own discretion. If you prefer lower-spice romance, this book may not be for you.

Chapter 1

“Denied”

POV Anna

I stare at the rejection letter in shock.

My fingers tightly grip the paper as tears stream down my face.

‘Your application to the Siren Council has been denied.’

“This isn’t fair! This was supposed to be my happily ever after,” I sob.

Paige, my best friend, wraps her arms around me, trying to comfort me.

I spent two weeks of my life on the cruise, only finding Issac in the last few days.

They won’t even let me see him. I’ve been forced to stay with Paige in council housing.

My heart bleeds all over again for the one I lost.

Armond had left without me on the last day of the cruise.

I knew it wasn’t meant to be.

Issac was supposed to be my savior.

“They say the second time’s a charm.” Paige gives me her best fake grin. “Or is it the third time’s a charm?”

“You’re just happy I’m going back on the stupid mate cruise with you.” I sniffle.

“That too. Maybe this is fate… maybe…”

“Are you thinking about Armond and his beta, Colton?” I ask her. “They played us. We need to make better choices.”

“I know. I just miss Colton.”

“I want a mate who’s here to find a match, not just a good time.”

“And if we see Armond and Colton?”

“We run in the opposite direction.”

“Colton who?” Paige laughs

I hear a knock at the door.

“Hello?” I say, answering.

“Here is your itinerary. A car will take you to the portal tomorrow at 7 a.m., and you are registered for two weeks on the mate cruise. Good luck.” The man tips his hat and leaves.

“We should go get drunk. Let off some steam,” Paige says.

“We can’t. We were warned a siren could use their siren call and lure us off and keep us as mistresses.”

“Would that be so bad? I just need one shot of vodka, or rum, or tequila,” Paige whines.

Someone knocks on the door again.

“Fuck off, we’re not interested,” I hiss.

“Here, I thought you would be excited to see your twin brother,” Aragon shouts through the front door.

“Aragon!” I open the door and pull him into a hug. “I missed you. What are you doing here?”

“Dmitry is mated to Leah. Only I can go with you to the mate cruise, and Dad was worried you would elope with Issac, so he sent me to make sure you get on the boat tomorrow.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the Royal Academy?”

“I’m way ahead of everyone else. Dad talked the school into letting me go. He said you had some pretty powerful mates interested in you.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I whimper.

“What floor are you on?” Aragon asks. “I’m registered with the dragons. The stronger the mate, being in the academy, the better.”

“I’m registered under the wolves. I had nothing but problems with the dragons last time. If any dragon asks you about me…”

“I would never talk behind your back, sis.”

He pulls out a bottle of tequila, and Paige dives on top of him.

“Will you marry me?” Paige chuckles, stealing the bottle from him.

“Um…”

“I got salt and limes.” She lies on the kitchen counter. “Who wants to lick salt off me?”

Aragon gets excited as she pours shots and lines them up on her flat belly.

I start to wonder if maybe they would be a good match.

I wake up to my alarm going off at 6:30, fully hungover.

I have a quick shower to get rid of the brewery smell and make coffee.

I find my brother and Paige naked in bed.

I kick the bed.

“We leave in twenty. Coffee is on.”

My brother leaps off and shoves Paige off the bed.

“That was mean,” I hiss at him.

“She’s not going to get up in time,” he says, running out to the shower.

I help Paige up. “Sorry, he’s at the Royal Academy. Up early, bed late.”

“Fuck, he’s ripped. You never said you had a hot twin brother.”

“Listen, once he gets out, you should have a shower. You smell terrible.” I scrunch my nose.

She runs into the bathroom.

I slightly open the door. “Fifteen minutes. Come on!”

Wait, why do I care if I get there on time?

I open the door again. “Take your time. No hurry.”

Aragon is out in seconds. “Nice try, sis.”

He’s changed and ready a few minutes later, and Paige is still in the shower.

He packs her stuff and goes back into the bathroom.

I hear her scream.

She comes running out naked and slams the door.

“Five minutes,” Aragon barks.

“What did you do to her in there?”

“Turned on the cold water,” he smirks.

“Can you just pretend we’re normal, delicate girls, not academy girls?”

“Two minutes, and I’m kicking this door in and throwing you in the cold shower fully clothed,” Aragon warns.

I hear a honk out front.

Aragon loads our suitcases, and we say bye to Paige.

I see her pop out of the door with her suitcase as we drive away. My brother’s idea, of course.

Aragon makes her run a full mile before stopping to let her in.

“Asshole,” she hisses, throwing her suitcase in.

“Drive,” Aragon says to the driver before Paige can get in.

Another mile, and he lets her get in, and surprisingly, she doesn’t say a word.

Until we get to the boat, when she shoves him, along with his suitcase, into the icy cold water off the ramp to the boat.