Adrian

by Celia Jade

  “Smell me, Lydia.”

  The odd request jerked her out of the daze. She gave him a suspicious glare. “Why?”

  The corner of his mouth quirked. “Because I’m the one you’ll have to track next.”

  Her pulse jumped. Once she decided he wasn’t joking, she said, “I don’t need to. I know how you smell.” The words were out before she realized how they could be interpreted.

  Too late, the sensual curve of his mouth increased. “So, you’re familiar with my scent, hmn, little hunter?”

  His scent of iron was pleasurable, only an undertone for the more potent notes of deep forests and primal male. She felt the blush creep under her cheeks as she averted her gaze.

  “I’m not little.” Well, perhaps compared to him she was, but at 5’6 and leanly muscled, she was hardly little.

  His dark head dipped and he brushed his mouth against her cheek. A feather light caress. Her fingernails bit into her palms as her eyelids drooped.

  “Then find me.”

  The air around her shifted abruptly, making her eyes snap open. Her gaze flicked around, but he was nowhere. Her jaw tensed. Lydia was angry at her show of weakness. “Damn you, vampire,” she muttered.

  Unclenching her fingers, she stood motionless for a long moment to clear her mind. It occurred to her that tracking someone who smelled like the forest would be difficult. But Adrian’s personal scent had infiltrated her pores, evoking images of velvet and sex. She gave a wry smile. It would make a great cologne. The loose earth crunched under her boots as she continued on the trail. It narrowed around a bend and the woods grew denser. Adrian’s fresh scent drifted in and out of her radar, which meant he hadn’t always walked on the main trail. Twice, she took a less worn path, which led her through thick underbrush. He camouflaged himself well. As the distance between them increased, she could only follow the unnatural odor in his wake. She loved the woods and wished she could enjoy her surroundings at a leisurely pace. But she had to locate him as soon as possible.

  Lydia passed under a gnarly branch and came to a halt at a fork in the trail. Heaving a sigh, she looked left, then right. No surprise he wasn’t making it easy. She touched the ground that veered left and felt his energy. Heat curled in her sex. She shook her head. It would take days, weeks, to get him out of her system.

  Lydia started on the left trail, but something peculiar riveted her to the spot. Her head turned to the right as her nostrils flared. A scent was interfering. Somewhat rancid. A dead animal? She backtracked and walked several paces on the path going right. No…definitely not an animal. Her stride increased until she broke into a light jog. The smell of iron pierced the air, shot through her flesh. Then realization hit her and she let out a chuckle. Clever trick, Adrian. He’d planted another vampire target to test her.

  She followed the scent onto another path, skipping over larger rocks and tree roots until it became so intense she slowed her pace and looked around. The pine trees were older here, with wide trunks and heavy branches that cast a shade over the area. Although she’d slowed, her heart thudded against her chest and a needle of apprehension went up her spine. This scent was too strong…too real.

  A mere rustle behind her. She didn’t have time to react when a hand closed over her mouth, muffled her scream. She felt angry force as her back made firm contact with the hard bark of a tree. She tried to shove her knee into her attacker’s groin, but long, muscular legs immobilized her. Lydia looked into coal-black eyes that glinted with malice. An icy chill went through her and a momentary helplessness paralyzed her before her mind began working, devising strategies for survival. If this vampire wanted her dead, he would have killed her already. Right now, he dominated her physically, so she drew in deep, calming breaths and waited for him to talk.

  “I’m going to remove my hand, but if you make any sound for help, I’ll snap your neck.” It was a lightly spoken threat, but only a fool would misinterpret it.

  She gave a brief nod and held his gaze as he removed his hand and glided it down to her throat, fingertips touching her pulse. The corner of his mouth twitched into a half-smile as a low growl rumbled in his throat.

  “So this is where they teach silly humans like you to hunt vampires.”

  Questions flew through her mind. How did he locate the training site? The hunter program and anything related to it was classified and the site was protected by a high electric fence.

  There was no use denying it. “How do you know?” She kept her tone calm. Aggression would put her life at instant risk.

  His thumb brushed against the rapid beat in her throat, making it skip. His nostrils flared as he replied, “There’s no such thing as a secret.” His hand moved down to her left breast, closed over it.

  Lydia bit back the protest, fought the surge of indignation in her body.

  “Don’t you think it’s a shame, vampires killing their own race?”

  She tilted her chin. “Only rogues who kill innocent people.”

  A dangerous flame flashed in the black eyes and the angular features of his face grew taut. “The intrinsic nature of all creatures is to survive by eliminating the weaker and the enemy.”

  Lydia swallowed the knot in her throat and prayed Adrian would realize something was wrong and come looking for her.

  “Humans kill each other every day. The strong take out the weak. Yet they, too, are hunted and imprisoned. Punished for doing what they are genetically conditioned to do,” he added.

  He inclined his head as a sombre smile curved his red mouth. His gaze dipped to his hand on her breast. “My first impulse was to rip your throat out. But you’re beautiful and your heart is strong. It would endure…” The black gaze flicked to hers. “…our games.”

  Her heart lurched. God help me. Young people had been kidnapped by vampires, held captive while the bloodsuckers subjected them to all kinds of cruelty, killing them once they lost interest. No fucking way. She would not let this happen to her.

  His erection pressed into her pubic bone as his tongue flicked against her throat. “A little appetizer in the meantime…” Sharp fangs chafed her skin, tearing the surface.

  Fear released a dose of adrenaline. She curled her hand into a hard fist and rammed it into his jaw. Arrows of pain shot through the bones in her hand. The vampire’s head snapped to the side. It was enough time to grab the compact knife strapped to the ankle of her boot. She was about to sink it into his chest when a solid shadow rammed into the vampire, taking him down to the ground.

  Bewildered, it took her eyes a moment to recognize Adrian as he and the other vampire rolled across the ground, broke away from each other and stood up. She couldn’t tell the rogue’s age—probably a little younger than Adrian—but he was quite strong. Rage burned in his eyes.

  “Careful, Adrian,” she called out. Her breath hitched as the two flung into battle, a violent flash of punches and jabs, whirls and kicks.

  Apart from his natural strength, Adrian was combat-trained. His strikes were precise, controlled, unlike his opponent’s. It wasn’t long before Adrian had the rogue’s neck in a vice grip.

  “Tell me how you found this place,” he demanded, steel threading his voice.

  When the vampire didn’t respond, he tightened his grip, choked him until his arms flailed and he grunted his defeat. “Vincent Ramsey. He’s related to one of my clan members.”

  Darkness stormed across Adrian’s handsome face.

  Lydia had heard the name, but couldn’t place it.

  Adrian grasped the vampire’s head and gave a quick twist. Bone and cartilage snapped. Bile rose to her throat as she looked away.

  “Let’s get back,” Adrian muttered.

  He dragged the limp body of the vampire with little effort. Breaking his neck hadn’t killed him. Decapitation or silver bullets to the heart killed a vampire. They returned to the warehouse in silence. Lydia avoided asking Adrian about Vincent Ramsey for now. She walked over to her car and leaned, emotionally tired, against the door.<
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  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Adrian reach into his car through the open window and talk on a cell phone. Within fifteen minutes, a large black SUV rolled to an abrupt stop nearby. Three men hopped out, lifted the vampire and placed him in the rear seat. The vehicle sped off and disappeared around the corner. She shivered and rubbed her hand over the sore spot on her throat, recalling the scrape of the vampire’s incisors. It came away moist with blood.

  Shit. She might be poisoned. Not enough to turn her, but enough to make her very ill. Rogue vampires never got vaccinated for a bacterium that was harmful to humans.

  “Lydia.”

  She gave a little start as Adrian appeared before her and touched the skin below the wound.

  His eyes flashed with anger and emotions she couldn’t read. “Bastard,” he uttered with a low growl. “There’s risk of poisoning. Let’s get you to my place so I can apply salve to it.”

  Self protection locked her muscles. His place. Bad idea. Despite her present health risk, her blood pulsed with keen awareness of this man, this vampire whom she disliked a little less now. Okay, a lot less. Her mind was screaming all kinds of warnings but her body had its own agenda. Since that evening at the gala.

  She made a last ditch effort. “Thanks for saving my life, but I think the nearest hospital will do.” She silently scolded the odd huskiness of her voice.

  A muscle flexed in his jaw as he clasped her elbow. “Lydia, I have the salve and the knowledge to treat this. Plus, I live only ten minutes away. The nearest hospital is twice as far.” His tone was inflexible.

  She was weakening, drawn to his sensual, potent energy. Her legs moved and soon she was sitting beside him in his car. She wasn’t a car aficionado, didn’t recognize the make. It was a luxury, beefy sports car with black leather seats that felt good against her body. She flipped down the visor and examined the short, raw streaks on her throat. Blood had coagulated in the deeper tears.

  Adrian handed her a couple of tissues, which she pressed to the wound.

  Lydia barely noticed the direction in which he drove. It could have been Islip. She leaned her head on the seat and looked out the passenger window. “This Ramsey…is he a mole?”

  He was quiet for a moment. “Looks that way, but we’ll investigate.”

  She shut her eyes in an effort to block out his effect on her. She was still a bit shaken from the attack. Her defenses were down, and it dawned on her that she really shouldn’t have agreed to let him treat her.

  “I’m not going to sleep with you,” she stated in a flat voice, but was surprised by how empty the words sounded in her ears.

  She felt his mood darken. It practically crackled in the air.

  The angry heat of his gaze burned into her. “Damn it, Lydia. I just want to help you.”

  She drew her bottom lip between her teeth, feeling a pinch of embarrassment. Attack or no, her battle was with herself. Her desire for him. She wasn’t going to try to figure it out. It was pure lust.

  She glanced at him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I just meant…” She gave a frustrated sigh as he stopped on a drive of a beautiful stone house. “Forget it.” Lydia pushed the door open and got out.

  Chapter Two

  Adrian disinfected her wound and applied the salve he’d prepared. A ripple of pleasure went through her as his warm fingers brushed against her throat gently. It was also soothing, especially after the vile touch of the rogue vampire. Her skin absorbed the salve and within minutes, any remaining soreness was alleviated.

  They were in his kitchen, Lydia perched on a stool next to a marble island. He slid open a drawer and extracted a mirror.

  “Look.”

  There were no cuts on her skin, just a pink mark that looked like a hickie. “That’s amazing.” She met his gaze. “Thanks.”

  He gave a brief nod. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have been exposed to any danger.” A muscle clenched in his jaw. “It’s never happened before.”

  She lifted her shoulders. “It’s not your fault.” She put the mirror on the counter.

  The dark current circled them again, tighter this time. The intensity of his gaze drew hers, locking it. He reached out and brushed his hand across her cheek, a sensual caress that shot down to her toes. Then a shadow crossed his face and his hand dropped away .

  “I think we could both use a drink.” His voice was sober.

  Disappointment flooded her. He’d deliberately broken the connection. You did warn him off, the voice in her head piped up.

  “I’ve got red and white wine, and whiskey.” He looked at her over his shoulder.

  “Red will do.”

  He opened a new bottle and pulled out two wine glasses from a cabinet. Her gaze traveled down his back as she envisioned the chiseled muscles underneath. He approached the other side of the island and pushed the glass across to her. She watched him take a long sip, then she raised the glass to her mouth and had two good sips. They took a lot of the edge off her nerves.

  She caught his gaze. “I want you to tell me something.”

  A dark brow quirked. “What would you like to know?”

  “Why don’t you have long-term relationships?”

  Charcoal eyes flashed with unreadable emotion. Neither angry nor pleased. He drank again before putting his glass down.

  “I’m two-hundred and fifteen years old, Lydia. I’ve had more than a few long-term relationships.” His reply was curt, but didn’t carry any rancour.

  Her fingers traced the circumference of the glass. “But not anymore.”

  Dark lashes obscured his eyes for a few seconds before his gaze met hers. “No.” He paused. “I loved two women more than my own life, a vampire and a human. I lost them both…many years ago.”

  Her heart squeezed. “I’m sorry. What happened?”

  He regarded her with shuttered eyes as tension edged his mouth. “Irena was an agent in the Unit. She was killed by a rogue vampire… Natalie dropped out of my life in her late-forties. She couldn’t deal with the fact that I never aged.”

  Lydia absorbed this for a moment. “Didn’t Natalie wish to be turned?”

  “She begged me to and I refused. I couldn’t destroy her nature. Kill her soul.”

  “She must have been heartbroken,” Lydia said softly.

  He inclined his head. “She was, and it was my fault for bringing her into my life.”

  “So now you have brief relations to avoid emotional pain.”

  The heat of his gaze penetrated her. “It’s a wise choice. My intentions are clear from the start.” He emphasized the latter point.

  Lydia recognized honesty. She looked down at her half empty glass. She’d judged him unfairly, based on rumor. He wasn’t an insensitive womanizer. Vampires had a strong sex drive, which had to be fulfilled. She couldn’t hold that against him.

  He spread his long fingers on the counter and compelled her gaze to his. “You thought I was a pig, right?”

  Color infused her face. “I…well…people talk.”

  He gave a wry smile. “They do. Some women, unfortunately, believe they can change my mind once they get into my bed.”

  She nodded. “I get it.”

  His eyes dipped to her mouth before returning to hers. “So, what do you want, Lydia?”

  It was a loaded question.

  She took another long sip and held his gaze evenly. “I want to remain human. I’ve never had an intimate relationship with a vampire…and I don’t want a serious relationship with one.” She hesitated while releasing a long breath. “However…my attraction to you is disturbing. I need to get you out of my system.” There. It was out.

  A flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “I know, Lydia.”

  Her brows lifted. “You do?” God, I’ve been so obvious?

  “Nothing based on rumors, I assure you.”

  Smartass.

  He came round to her side and she had to tilt her chin to meet his gaze. He cupped her face and her heart ski
pped. His thumb swept along the edge of her bottom lip.

  “I’ve wanted you since I first saw you, but you shied away like a frightened animal at the gala.”

  She couldn’t deny it.

  His perceptive eyes moved over her face. “You were attacked by a vampire tonight, Lydia. I’m not sure sex, especially with me, is a good idea.” A silky voice roughened by need.

  Lydia closed her eyes for a moment and pressed her palm to his hand. She didn’t want to like him too much, wanted a part of her to dislike him for her own good. She opened her eyes. “It’s probably not a good idea either way, so let’s not analyze it.”

  She heard the hitch in his breath as his eyes darkened. “I’m not a gentle lover.”

  A wicked shiver danced over her skin. “I know.” She curled her fingers around his hand and moved it away from her face, her hand slipping into his. She stood up, barely reaching his shoulder. Her blood surged with anticipation.

  “I don’t need to be anywhere tonight or tomorrow. It should be enough.”

  A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. “That’s barely thirty hours, sweetheart. I wouldn’t mind keeping you for a week.”

  Lydia angled her gaze at him with a cheeky smile. “Short and intense will do.”

  Adrian’s home was neat and furnished with tasteful, masculine furniture and expensive-looking electronics. His bedroom was immense, the biggest she’d ever seen. She gazed in awe at the king bed covered in black and red silk. How fitting, she mused. Sumptuous dark curtains gathered by a rope revealed sheer curtains at the single, high window. It overlooked a large plot of land with a swimming pool and lounge chairs. Adrian had done well for himself.

  He was behind her. Her pulse jumped as he pushed her hair over her shoulder, exposing her nape. His mouth made contact with her skin, velvet kisses along the curve of her neck. A swipe of his warm tongue followed by a light graze of fangs. Goose bumps sizzled through her body. He rounded on her pulse as it fluttered in response.