The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 18 Evangeline

The lake is packed with people when we arrive. Apparently, everyone had the same idea we did.

From what I understand, this land used to sit idle throughout the year until it was time for that year’s claiming. Since the claiming ended years ago, no one has been here, and during that time, mother nature has staked her claim on this lake. The edges of the lake are lush with plants and flowers and the water is pristine, clear. The waterfall finishes off the image of a tropical getaway hidden deep within a forest, and that’s basically what this place is.

Makayla goes racing into the water and I turn to Alejandro. “Are you on watch duty since dad’s not here?” I ask him.

“How’d you guess?” He asks me, rolling his eyes.

“Who knows, maybe a cute brunette will come to the lake today.” I say, teasing him about the time he’s been spending with Teagan.

I should have known better. “Yeah, and maybe her brother will show up too.” He says, teasing me right back.

“You know Alpha Jaxon is already 18.” He says to me.

“I do.” I say, not looking at him and pulling towels out of our bag.

“And you’re nearly 18.” He says, watching me closely.

your

other than the

stop and look at

pull to Teagan and I’m not even 17 yet. She’s a year older than I am and she says she feels it too. If we feel it and we’re both younger than you and Jax…” He lets the rest of the sentence go unsaid. But he doesn’t need

this contest. I came here intending to win, and I plan to do

lake with his family. From the shadow of the overhang where I’m currently sitting on a rock ledge, I have a birds-eye view of his fantastic body. He’s wearing swim shorts and nothing else. His skin is golden brown, his chest and arms defined by muscle, sliding down to a

be immune, but when it comes to Jaxon, I’m nothing more than

now sunning herself beside the lake. I watch as his eyes narrow and he begins searching the area surrounding the lake and finally, searching the lake until

see Rowan smack him and he startles, frowning and looking at her before handing her their bag. I guess she was trying to get his attention and he wasn’t paying attention. Neither was I, my focus is

he hands over the bag, he’s moving, heading straight for me. The

progress, but I’m too low in the water to see him. I’ve just about decided that I’ve

“Oh!” I exclaim.

“Hello, Eve.”

his face, his long eyelashes are

me. I feel my heart begin to race.

sleep well?” He asks, and I feel his fingers, graze my hips under the water. I shiver at the contact,

about you?” I ask, reaching my hand out to touch the muscles on his stomach. I gently slide my fingers up the

can tell by the way he

his hand follow the path on my stomach that my fingers

a good idea.” He says, his eyes never leaving

little game. I take a finger and slide it between his pectoral muscles just until my finger gets to the surface and then I slide it

his finger slides between my breasts, following the same