Darkfall by Denise A. Agnew

sucked in a deep breath and turned away. She need a few moments. She headed straight for the bunker. Her heart was still pounding, and she thought she might start screaming. No, not screaming. She didn’t know what she would do. She heard him following and quickened her steps. When she reached the bunker she stalked straight for the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. She chugged, almost choking as she finished more than half the bottle. She slammed it onto a table and stood with her head hanging down. Her skull no longer throbbed, but her mind whirled. Part of her felt as if she might explode.
    The bunker door shut, and she heard him lock it. Here they were again. Locked away. He went into the bathroom, and she heard the water running. Of course. He probably had blood on his hands or his knuckles bled or…Her stomach lurched.
    After a few moments he returned.
    “Penny. Hey.” His voice had that tone. Her father’s matter-of-fact tone that made her anger or concerns illegitimate.
    She turned toward him but didn’t make a move. “Hey? That’s all you have to say?”
    “Did you…” His mouth twisted a second. He planted his hands on his hips. “Did you still have feelings for him?”
    “Are you kidding me?” Her voice rose. “No. God, no. I was afraid he’d get the drop on you somehow and kill you.”
    Silence shrouded them for a few moments until he spoke again. “Did he hurt you?”
    “No.” She heard the tremble in her voice and realized her body was shaking. “I mean…he knocked me down and I hit my head, but it isn’t anything.”
    “Hit your head?” He sounded angry again. “Why didn’t you say something? You should have been in the ambulance.”
    “Stop telling me what to do, Ian. How to feel. My head doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
    “Doesn’t matter. You could have a concussion.”
    Adrenaline mixed with pure happiness that Ian had returned in one piece and survived a very short fight. She’d never experienced both emotions at one time. It was a confusing array so sharp and harsh. Once more, a wave of awareness cracked her wide open and made her forget all the sense she was born with. Why? Why the hell couldn’t she resist this explosive, ridiculous attraction to Ian MacDaniel?
    Ian stripped off his vest and holster and placed them on the bench. “I’m sorry.”
    His voice was soft, a low rumble that held genuine sincerity. He strode toward her—it wasn’t as if he had far to go before he was less than a foot away. She stared up at him, feeling the heat off his body, smelling his male scent. His gaze snagged hers and held. Exasperation hadn’t left his face, and the wildness still burned in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to strangle her or fuck her. That slammed into her full force like a body blow. His fists were clutched at his sides. His chest moved up and down, and his nostrils flared.
    “You were gone longer than you said you would be,” she said thickly. “I wasn’t staying in here and rotting while you might have needed my help.”
    “And look what happened,” he said, his voice raspy and rough with his thick accent. “That wanker could have raped you or worse. And now you’re angry with me.”
    Her irritation rose higher and hotter.
    “You just yelled at me for not staying down in the bunker.” She shook her head, unable to deal. “Just forget what happened. Forget it.”
    “I don’t get why you’re acting this way. I understood when I left because I wouldn’t take you with me, but you’re still ready to rip me a new one.” His attention stayed on her face, searching. His voice lowered to a husky timbre that smoothed over her senses like a caress. “Were you crying just now? Were you worried?”
    “What if I was? First you didn’t show up when you said you would and then Frank comes in and you fight him and—” She threw her hands up.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Penny I—I didn’t mean to take so long. The SUV is trashed, my assault rifle