What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Alexei rises to his feet, and then it’s as if he flips a switch. His demeanor morphs from predatory to relaxed as he saunters closer to me. When he gives me an actual friendly smile, there’s even a freaking twinkle in his eye.

My frown deepens as I try to figure out what he’s up to.

He takes the seat next to me, and resting his elbows on the marble top, he gives me a look that can be mistaken as interest.

Then he lifts his hand, and bringing it to my face, he gently tucks some hair behind my ear.

“So?” he asks, leaning closer to me, “Are you single?”

What. The. Hell?

I begin to blink, having no idea how to handle this situation.

The next second, Demitri grabs hold of my hips, and I gasp as I’m lifted and moved to another chair, and then he sits down between Alexei and me. Demitri assumes the same position as Alexei and then warns him with a bite to his voice, “Don’t go there.”

Alexei leans back, letting out an amused chuckle. “Christ, you make it so easy to fuck with you.”

My eyes dart between the two men. “I’m lost right now.”

“Ignore him,” Demitri snaps at me, and then he gets up again. He places a plate with eggs and bacon down in front of me. “You better eat everything.”

I glare up at Demitri. “Yes, Sir.”

Alexei bursts out laughing, and the sudden sound startles me.

“God, I’m going to love every second of this.” He grins as his eyes flit between Demitri and me.

“Every second of what?” I ask, directing my glare at him.

He shakes his head, and when Demitri hands him his plate, he immediately digs in.

I stare at Alexei as he wolfs the food down until Demitri sits down again. When I give Demitri a what’s-going-on look, he reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Eat, Malyshka.”

Letting out a sigh, I pick up a strip of bacon and nibble on it.

My life has become the freaking twilight zone.

Chapter 18

DEMITRI

“No,” Ariana snaps, glaring at me.

Alexei crosses his arms over his chest, a huge-ass smile on his face as he watches us.

“You only have to wear it until we get on the plane,” I explain.

She points at the blindfold in my hand. “I swear if you try to put that on me, we’re probably going to have a repeat of the first day we met.”

“Think of it as foreplay with Demitri,” Alexei suddenly says.

Both Ariana and I stare at Alexei.

“Seriously, shut up,” I warn him. I turn my attention back to Ariana. “You can’t know where the island is.”

Ariana narrows her eyes on me, and then she takes a threatening step toward me. “Just so there’s no misunderstanding between us, you want me to trust you with my life, but I can’t know where this freaking island is?”