about her quite possibly was a lie. Kylie expected him to turn and march out of the room.
“You know what I mean.” Since he didn’t confront her, it gave her time to formulate a cover to patch up her mistake. If Perry really believed her to be that much younger than she was and was cool with their supposed age difference, she could always say she had lied about being older so that he wouldn’t walk out on her. Because of course she wouldn’t think it through that he would research her, since laymen didn’t think that way. Or laywomen. “Now please, you know I don’t want you in here. This is my personal room.”
“I see that. Would you actually let me fuck you in the living room? And if so, would you play it back later and watch, possibly masturbate to it?” he asked, then grabbed her under her arms, once again lifting her into his arms.
“The answer to both of those questions is no,” she informed him, narrowing her gaze on his.
He held her, with her feet dangling inches off the floor. “I believe you’ve told me the truth that time. Possibly for the first time this evening. You know, Kylie, you want to spend time with my nieces, but I’m not sure I approve of the role model you would present to them. And maybe Dani has already picked up on your level of deception. Maybe that is why she conjured up a reason for you to back out of dinner tomorrow night. You want me. You think about me when I’m not around. And then make a show of not caring how your cold comments might affect me when you lie and deny it.”
She should let him walk out the door on that comment. Let him think she was less of a person than she was. It would help both of them numb the passion, the friction and fire that sparked to life every time he touched her. Paul needed to talk to her. Perry needed to leave. What was wrong with letting him leave angry? What did it matter?
It wasn’t like she needed to go to his sister’s. If she could convince Peter to meet her, get a warrant based on the screen name he used, which he also used on Rita Simoli, then she could make her arrest. It would be over.
And she would be assigned to her next case or given downtime, which she would use to go home and spend time with her parents.
“It doesn’t usually take you this long to think up a good lie,” he growled, and gave her a slight shake.
Kylie felt her gun strap slip just a bit down her thigh. “I don’t deserve to be spoken to like this, Perry. I think you should leave.”
“Admit you care, Kylie. Tell me you want to be with me.”
“I’m not lying. You’re berating me, and I don’t like it. That’s the truth.”
He searched her face, seemingly unimpressed by what she had just said. If anything, his serious, focused stare almost made her believe he hadn’t heard a word of it.
“Maybe if you’re that unwilling to admit your feelings, then you’re incapable of having any,” he whispered, once again putting her on the floor. This time he did turn and walked into the hallway and then to the living room.
Kylie followed him, her heart swelling in her throat while her eyes burned. She didn’t like the tightening in her gut while anticipating him walking out the door and never coming back. And that bugged her. Perry was an incredible man. If she were better at this, she would know how to keep her cover, work the case and solve it, but still be able to keep him in a place where she could get to know him better once this was all said and done. Unfortunately, with his dominating nature, not giving him full reign damaged anything that might come between them before it had a chance to develop.
Perry turned when he reached her front door and she stopped in front of him, clasping her hands behind her back and watching his brooding expression. It was definitely her imagination that he suddenly looked sad. Perry Flynn wouldn’t know those emotions. Betrayal, noncompliance, refusal to submit, wouldn’t sadden him. It would outrage him. She was certain she misread the way his lips pressed together into a frown as he looked at her with deep green eyes that no longer simmered with passion.
“If