Claiming Her Mate [New Hope Valley 1] Paperback - 4 left in stock
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For more than seven years, Summer Ashcroft has had to watch the man she knows is her mate, go about his life, ambivalent and distant toward her. As one of only a few tiger shifters left, the pressure on her to mate threatens to suffocate her, leaving her to wonder if is she strong enough to risk it all to be with him.
Evan MacKenzie has known Summer all of his life, and has forcefully maintained his distance from the gorgeous woman. Staying away seems to be his only recourse since he is unwilling to risk losing the one person that still makes him feel as if he has a heart. When it's realized he is the key to things left out of their control, he finds himself at a crossroads.
Mistakes are made by both, but when the truth is discovered, the pair is thrust together in unimaginable circumstances. They must work as one to search out answers for Evan, and secure a future for Summer's species, but are they strong enough? Or will forces set into motion thousands of years before, keep them apart?
Evan MacKenzie has known Summer all of his life, and has forcefully maintained his distance from the gorgeous woman. Staying away seems to be his only recourse since he is unwilling to risk losing the one person that still makes him feel as if he has a heart. When it's realized he is the key to things left out of their control, he finds himself at a crossroads.
Mistakes are made by both, but when the truth is discovered, the pair is thrust together in unimaginable circumstances. They must work as one to search out answers for Evan, and secure a future for Summer's species, but are they strong enough? Or will forces set into motion thousands of years before, keep them apart?
Excerpt
“Sure. I’ll come find my date in a little while.” Brad’s smile appeared forced as he turned and left.
Flicking her long, dark chocolate hair out of her eyes, she gazed up at Evan from her five foot seven height. “What is it tha—”
“You shouldn’t be here with him?” Evan cut her off, his brows furrowed.
Stunned, it took her a moment to respond, “Excuse me?”
Placing his hand on her lower back, Evan nudged her to a more private area behind the partition. She went obediently, reveling in the touch of her mate. “Bradley isn’t the type of guy you should be spending time with, Summer.”
She halted, bristling at his tone. “Really? And pray tell, who should I be spending time with, Evan?”
He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Not him. It doesn’t look right.”
She couldn’t believe this. Here she was, Evan right up close, and he was still treating her like a child. He obviously wasn’t interested in her but was concerned for what, the image of the company? Like by dating publicly she was giving herself and the firm a bad name. What was this, the friggin' dark ages?
“Now you listen to me, you pompous, self-righteous prick,” she snapped. “I will date who I want, whenever I want. It will not reflect on the firm in anyway, and therefore it is none of your damn business.”
Gearing up for a fight, Summer was taken off guard when Evan suddenly crushed his mouth down onto hers in a searing kiss. Evan claimed her with his lips fiercely, tongues duelling as he wrapped his arm around her waist, dragging her to him. Her cat whimpered at the force behind the man’s kiss, happily submitting to their mate. God, he tasted good. Summer’s hands clung to his wide shoulders, digging in as she held on for the ride. A moan escaped her when she tried to draw in breath. She was dizzy with need and want, her pussy clenching at the desire flooding her system.
All too soon, Evan pulled away. Dazed and confused, she tried to regain her bearings. “What was that?” she asked, panting.
“Well, if you have to ask, I must be more out of practice than I thought,” Evan smirked.
Summer let out an exasperated sigh. “I meant the kiss. You’ve never kissed me before.” Not that I’m complaining.
Hope was rising in her with that kiss. It had been amazing, mind-blowing. Summer couldn’t help but think that perhaps Evan was finally taking notice. Maybe her little plan had worked after all and she could finally claim her mate.
Until his next words shattered that hope. “I was merely showing you there was more out there than whatever Bradley has to offer. Summer, don’t date men like him. You just make yourself seem cheap.” Evan’s concerned expression humiliated her almost as much as his words.
She paled, drawing in a sharp breath. “Cheap,” she whispered.
Summer staggered a little, the word echoing around inside her head. The humiliation was like a cold slap to the face. Unable to even stand the sight of him, she spun on her heels, running for the door. She could hear both Evan and her brother’s calls as she raced past, but ignored them.
“Sure. I’ll come find my date in a little while.” Brad’s smile appeared forced as he turned and left.
Flicking her long, dark chocolate hair out of her eyes, she gazed up at Evan from her five foot seven height. “What is it tha—”
“You shouldn’t be here with him?” Evan cut her off, his brows furrowed.
Stunned, it took her a moment to respond, “Excuse me?”
Placing his hand on her lower back, Evan nudged her to a more private area behind the partition. She went obediently, reveling in the touch of her mate. “Bradley isn’t the type of guy you should be spending time with, Summer.”
She halted, bristling at his tone. “Really? And pray tell, who should I be spending time with, Evan?”
He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Not him. It doesn’t look right.”
She couldn’t believe this. Here she was, Evan right up close, and he was still treating her like a child. He obviously wasn’t interested in her but was concerned for what, the image of the company? Like by dating publicly she was giving herself and the firm a bad name. What was this, the friggin' dark ages?
“Now you listen to me, you pompous, self-righteous prick,” she snapped. “I will date who I want, whenever I want. It will not reflect on the firm in anyway, and therefore it is none of your damn business.”
Gearing up for a fight, Summer was taken off guard when Evan suddenly crushed his mouth down onto hers in a searing kiss. Evan claimed her with his lips fiercely, tongues duelling as he wrapped his arm around her waist, dragging her to him. Her cat whimpered at the force behind the man’s kiss, happily submitting to their mate. God, he tasted good. Summer’s hands clung to his wide shoulders, digging in as she held on for the ride. A moan escaped her when she tried to draw in breath. She was dizzy with need and want, her pussy clenching at the desire flooding her system.
All too soon, Evan pulled away. Dazed and confused, she tried to regain her bearings. “What was that?” she asked, panting.
“Well, if you have to ask, I must be more out of practice than I thought,” Evan smirked.
Summer let out an exasperated sigh. “I meant the kiss. You’ve never kissed me before.” Not that I’m complaining.
Hope was rising in her with that kiss. It had been amazing, mind-blowing. Summer couldn’t help but think that perhaps Evan was finally taking notice. Maybe her little plan had worked after all and she could finally claim her mate.
Until his next words shattered that hope. “I was merely showing you there was more out there than whatever Bradley has to offer. Summer, don’t date men like him. You just make yourself seem cheap.” Evan’s concerned expression humiliated her almost as much as his words.
She paled, drawing in a sharp breath. “Cheap,” she whispered.
Summer staggered a little, the word echoing around inside her head. The humiliation was like a cold slap to the face. Unable to even stand the sight of him, she spun on her heels, running for the door. She could hear both Evan and her brother’s calls as she raced past, but ignored them.
