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.

What’s your

other than

look at him.

his full height and looking at me. “Evie, I already feel a 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

pull to Jaxon, but I can’t let that interfere with this contest. I came here intending to win, and I plan to do that, no matter

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 narrow waist and hips before ending with muscular thighs and calves. The man is

immune, but when it comes to Jaxon,

when he spots Makayla who is now sunning herself beside the lake. I watch as his eyes narrow and

their bag. I guess she was trying to get his attention and he wasn’t paying attention. Neither was I, my focus is completely

soon as he hands over the bag, he’s moving, heading straight for me. The butterflies in my stomach take flight and I’m

several people before diving under water. I try to follow his progress, but I’m too low in the water to see him. I’ve just about decided that I’ve lost him somewhere when he

“Oh!” I exclaim.

“Hello, Eve.”

his long eyelashes are clumped together by

my heart begin to race. Damn this man is sexy. Is this the mate bond, pulling me toward him, or is it

hips under the water. I shiver at the contact, and

on his stomach. I gently slide my fingers up the squared ridges of his stomach, feeling him quiver at

by the way he says it that they

his hand follow the path on my stomach

good idea.” He says, his

is that?” I ask, once again enjoying our 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 back

his finger slides between my breasts, following the