Free Adrian by Celia Jade

Chapter One
    Lydia Dumais parked her car outside the training facility operated by the Vampire Federal Investigation Unit, located in Deer Park, Long Island, on the northern end of a wooded conservation area. She closed the door and inhaled clean oxygen and the predominant smell of pine. It was a gorgeous day, first week of April. She took in her surroundings, noting that trees and bushes had been cleared to an extent to accommodate the massive warehouse-type building.
    She walked toward it with clear instructions from her mentor. There would be a security box by the entrance on the right side of the building. She punched in the five-digit code, turning the red light on the panel green. Lydia pushed open the metal door and stepped inside. It closed with a soft click. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light, provided only by a short row of windows near the ceiling. The place looked like a plain movie studio set with various props.
    Her body stirred with sharp awareness. A vampire was present. Like humans, vampires each had a distinct smell, but the main note was always iron because of the blood they consumed. The average person couldn’t detect this. It was this unusual ability and her friend’s death that had compelled her toward her career choice. She’d earned a black belt while attending the vampire hunter program. It was her second field training—sort of a pre-test actually—aimed to prepare her for the final exam.
    “Lydia. Welcome,” her mentor’s voice rang out across the wide area as he and another man appeared in the main corridor and walked toward her.
    Daniel’s shock of cropped, white hair almost glowed in the dimness. He was in his late-thirties, lean and agile as a cobra—just as lethal, if necessary. He was a good man. An excellent teacher and mentor.
    Involuntarily, her eyes narrowed when they shifted to the vampire beside him. A wave of apprehension pushed through her body. Vampires, even the good ones, made just about everyone nervous. They were physically powerful, immortal beings. This one was tall, a formidable package of hard, compact muscles pushing against a t-shirt and dark cargo pants. The closer he got, the more she sensed his essence. Remarkably strong. Dangerous. Primal. A warm knot formed low in her belly as her eyes met his. The charcoal depths flickered with dark amusement. His full, sensual mouth evoked images of wicked, lustful sex and a hint of cruelty.
    Then she recognized him and her body froze, her breathing ceasing for a moment. Despite this, the tension in her body liquefied and pooled in her nipples, her stomach, and her pussy.
    Shit. Lydia tore her eyes from the vampire and gave Daniel a hard gaze. How could he do this to me? Of all the trainers, he’d chosen Adrian Court. A steadfast bachelor with a ruthless streak and a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Still, women, both vampire and human flocked to him. He had irresistible looks. Thick, midnight hair. Eyes that smoldered with dark intensity. A square jaw offset by a mouth most women would envy.
    They’d met only once, at a charity gala hosted by the chief of the Vampire Human Protection Unit. Even before the introduction by one of her teachers, she’d known of him—every hunter and vampire in New York City knew who he was. An elite agent and trainer in the unit. Adrian Court had tasted her with his eyes, igniting her skin that instant and the rest of the evening. She’d disliked him and lusted after him at once. Discreetly, she’d put distance between them. Though many young, pretty women flirted with him, he’d watched her over the rim of his glass like a predator, branding her from across the room.
    He was damn tempting, but she wouldn’t become one of his trophies. Plus, she wasn’t into vampires. A regular guy was what she needed. When Adrian had left with a curvy redhead clinging to his arm that night, jealousy ripped through her. Her reaction angered her. It was no business of hers who