Free Need You Tonight by Marquita Valentine Page B

that?”
    She shrugs. “I’m happy to have help, just not the fact that you’ll finish so soon. Why else would you keep coming over?”
    I stand, cocking my head to one side. “I think I made that abundantly clear last night.”
    “You did, but I didn’t want to hold you to it, if in the morning you felt differently.”
    She’s giving me an out, and a graceful one at that. I’d be a liar not to admit that it had crossed my mind a time or two last night, after I left her in bed. Still clothed. Still untouched by me.
    “I’m sure I could think up other things we could do in order to get everyone off our backs.”
    Her pink tongue darts out, licking her lips. “I don’t want you to feel obligated because of my meltdown.”
    I take a step closer to her, unable to stop myself as I cup her cheek. “The last thing I feel is obligated.”
    A smile transforms her face to beautiful. “Then I’m glad you’re here.”
    Letting go of her, I get back to work, barely noticing when water rains down on me. Another shot, this time directly to my face, leaves me sputtering, “What the hell?”
    Brooklyn peeps over the hood, her pretty eyes innocent. “Did I get you?”
    “A little.”
    “I’ll be more careful next time. I just found a super stubborn spot on the side panel.”
    With a half salute, I kneel once more. A few seconds later, I’m practically drowning. I hear a giggle, and shoot to my feet, only to catch Brooklyn red-handed.
    “You’re so going to get it,” I warn seconds before I take off.
    She lets out a squeal while simultaneously letting go of the water hose. “It was an accident.”
    I catch up to her in three steps, locking her within my embrace. Lowering my mouth to her ear, I whisper, “Do you know what happens to naughty girls like you?”
    “They get cookies?”
    Reaching down, I grab the hose and take aim. “They get soaked.” I pull the trigger, and water blasts out. She bucks against me, her curvy, little body wriggling in my arms.
    “Let me go,” she squeals. “It’s frickin’ freezing!”
    “Well water doesn’t get too warm, since it’s coming from underground.” I can’t help but laugh, even as she wrestles the hose from my grasp and turns the water on me. Soon, we’re both soaked. “Drop the hose. I won’t squirt you anymore.”
    “Promise?” she asks, not letting up.
    Water snakes down our bodies in rivulets. Her shirt clings to her. Tight little nipples poke at the material, and I have the sudden urge to suck them in my mouth. My dick gets hard at the thought. I force myself to think of how she was in the kitchen last night, weeping and broken.
    Letting go of her, I take a step back to put distance between us. She gives me a funny look, obviously unaware of my erection. Thank God. “Promise.”
    She laughs, and I can’t help but grin. “We look like drowned rats.”
    “Speak for yourself.” I shake the water out of my hair like a dog would.
    Brooklyn squeals, holding up her hands to shield herself. “Stop it. You look amazing . Like a magazine cover.”
    “What magazine?” I ask, just to tease her.
    “Drowned Rats Weekly.”
    “So not the right answer.”
    I lunge for her and she takes off in a run, her legs pumping and her wet hair flying out behind her. For a few seconds I watch her, entranced by her and the joy on her face when she glances over her shoulder. Then I take off, catching up to her easily with my longer strides.
    She veers to the right at the last minute, but I keep up. There’s an old tractor up ahead, with an aerator attachment. The spikes on it, meant to dig into the soil, could kill a man.
    Brooklyn looks back at me, laughing, as she starts jogging backwards. “You sure run slow for a guy.”
    She doesn’t see it. Holy fuck , she doesn’t see it. “Watch out,” I roar.
    Time seems to slow to a crawl. I watch her face go from happy to confused, and then, as she turns, I hear her scream. Her body contorts, twisting to one side. Diving for