Chapter 1 — Chapter 1

"We can organize a tourist trip to the statues of ancient gods hidden in caves," they tempted us.

"No way, it's an untested route," I dismissed it.

"Marina, come on! We only live once!" Verka whined.

"It's dangerous!" I snapped, turning away from the bar counter to look at the guys standing next to us. These exotic twins had been bothering us since day one. But why us? It seemed to me they were taking turns flirting with me, while Vera was just a distraction!

Dark skin, strange tattoos of scales and snake bodies. Gorgeous bodies, I must say... But I'm not into that. I came here to relax, not to have a vacation fling.

"No!" I finished my cocktail and headed to the sea.

Vera lagged behind, chattering to the guys, but I constantly felt their hot gazes on me. What was their deal?

I glanced back at the beach. There were plenty of girls! Why were they fixated on us?!

I slipped off my sundress onto a free lounger and walked into the water. This time, no one disturbed me, and I peacefully dove and swam before returning to the shore. Vera was already sitting on my lounger, looking displeased.

"Let's sign up for diving?" I tried to soften my refusal of the tour.

"Sign up..." she grumbled.

"We have our own boat, and we know all the interesting spots. And we have the equipment." The two brothers seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Are you kidding me!" I got really angry and flopped onto the lounger. "Leave and don't come back to us. I don't know what you want from us, but you're not getting it!"

"But we don't need anything," they exchanged glances and shrugged. "We just want to entertain you, for free. You can leave a note at the hotel reception about who you're going with, where, and for how long. We'll plan a detailed route!"

"Ma-ri-na-a-a," Vera whined again.

"Fine! And you'll handle all the preparations," I looked seriously at the guys.

"Great! Dancing at the restaurant tonight?" They smiled as if they had won something they desired.

"Yes!" Vera squeaked and clapped her hands.

I lay silently on the lounger and closed my eyes. I came here to relax – so let's do it!

I even left my phone in the safe at the reception to avoid work calls. And one jerk... That's a big problem. We've been here for three days, and I check for calls and messages in the evening and morning, but I've never opened his messages. For some reason, he thinks I didn't leave him "seriously."

"I need to come up with something quick to get him off my back..."

"You again?" Vera was indignant. "We have two gorgeous guys here, relax and forget the idiot who lost you!"

"Did I say that out loud?" I sighed.

"You're always up there," she pointed at the sky. "And you dragged me to the islands saying we'd have fun! Where have we had fun in three days? When we rode elephants? Or the trip to the nearest market to eat cockroaches?"

"Enough, I get it," I rolled my eyes.

We fell silent. Then she went swimming, no longer huffing in annoyance. Yes, she was right... Today, it seems, there are dances and a cafe?

I mentally went through what to wear tonight. The white sundress with thin straps? Yes. And platform sandals. I'll let my hair down...

Sighing, I walked into the water. Vera found me sitting on a sandbar, staring at the pebbles on the bottom.

"Let's go already... We need to get ready."

"Yes, let's go," I stood up. I reached the lounger, threw on a loose sundress, grabbed my sandals and bag, and headed to the beach exit.

"You're such a scatterbrain, like Masha," Vera caught up with me, put a hat on my head, and stuffed sunglasses into my bag.

"I know you're very responsible about this," I smiled apologetically and praised her.

"Someone has to be..." She walked beside me, and I slowed down.

At my height of six feet and with long legs, I walked too fast for her five feet two... In short, she couldn't keep up, and I had to restrain myself so she wouldn't have to run.

"What are you wearing?" I asked her.

"Probably the white jumpsuit and clogs, at least I'll look a bit taller," she chuckled.

"I'm wearing a sundress..."

"Then we'll look different," she giggled.

"Of course..."

Laughing, we reached the hotel, picked up our keys, and went to change. Shower, hairstyles... Though what hairstyle does Vera have – a short boyish cut. No, it suited her slender figure, but I'm a fan of long hair. We were opposites, so to speak, different, and our tastes in men didn't match. Isn't that a reason for friendship?

Two hours later, we were heading to the cafe. We stopped in front of the mirrors in the hotel lobby, checked each other out, and headed out. They were already waiting for us.

This time, the guys hid their bodies under t-shirts, white pants, and shoes. But overall, they just highlighted their muscular builds and abs. Their clothes hugged and accentuated all their assets. There were no flaws.

They split us up, squeezing between us and taking our arms, leading us to the beachside cafe.

"Everything will be ready by morning! First diving, then the tour." Said Dokite or his brother Tamsin. I have no idea who's who. They look identical!

"I didn't agree to the tour, just the underwater swimming," I protested.

"Marina!" Vera gave me a killing look.

"I'll think about it!" I didn't fall for her threat.

We reached the open-air cafe with a thatched roof and a sea view. A table was reserved for us. The waiter brought large trays of fish assortments. A bottle of tequila went into an ice bucket. Fruit bowls, sauce bottles, and juice pitchers were placed on the table.

The men quickly poured the tequila and pushed the lime bowl towards us. I squeezed a few drops of juice from a citrus wedge, holding it between two fingers, and dropped it into the drink.

"To a successful outing tomorrow!" I raised the first toast.

***

Oh, if only I had known how it would end – I would have run to my room without looking back!