Page 15 of In the Monster’s Wake (Monsters Amongst Us #1)

Jasper allowed his hands to roam over Archie’s body.

He explored the surprisingly familiar texture of his inhuman skin with a hunger that surprised even himself.

He loved the ridges along Archie’s spine, the faint greenish color of his skin under the dim light, the way his muscles moved with a fluidity that was both not human and intoxicating—Jasper wanted to see and feel all of it.

His fingers dug into Archie’s back, pulling him closer.

“You’re full of surprises,” Jasper murmured against Archie’s lips. He could never have imagined he’d end up in this position when they’d first met. Hell, he’d thought Archie was about to hurt him back then.

Archie chuckled. “You, too.” His hands slid down Jasper’s sides, gripping his hips with a possessiveness that made Jasper’s breath hitch.

Had anyone ever wanted him this way? His past relationships had been good, but they’d never felt like his partner wanted him as fiercely as Archie.

Maybe they just hadn’t felt comfortable enough to show that to Jasper, but he didn’t think so.

Something about Archie and what they were doing together felt special, no matter how ridiculous that thought was.

“But I wonder if you can keep up with me,” Archie continued.

Jasper’s eyes narrowed. He never backed down from a challenge. “Try me.” Archie always would, wouldn’t he? He’d keep Jasper on his toes.

Their lips crashed together again in a clash of teeth and tongues that bordered on painful.

Archie’s fingers tangled in Jasper’s hair, pulling hard enough to make Jasper groan.

Archie swallowed the sound and bit Jasper’s lower lip.

Jasper retaliated by doing the same but slightly harder, drawing a sharp gasp from the monster.

Archie’s hands moved lower to cup Jasper’s ass. He lifted him effortlessly, putting his inhuman strength on full display. Jasper wasn’t sure it was on purpose, but he didn’t care. He wrapped his legs around Archie’s waist, slotting their bodies together.

“You’re so fucking smug,” Jasper muttered, though he wasn’t really complaining. It was a bit annoying, though.

“And yet, you’re clinging to me,” Archie teased.

He walked them forward until Jasper’s back hit the wall again. Jasper gripped Archie’s shoulders for balance. “Maybe I just like the view from up here.”

Archie’s eyes darkened, his gaze raking over Jasper’s face, down his neck, to where their bodies were pressed together. “I like the view too.” His hips rolled against Jasper’s, the movement slow and deliberate, drawing a groan from both of them.

“Fuck,” Jasper breathed, his head falling back against the wall. His hands slid down Archie’s chest, brushing over his skin. He didn’t understand how Archie could have this much of an effect on him. “You’re—something.”

Archie’s lips curved into a wicked smile. “Am I?” His hands tightened on Jasper’s hips, lifting him up slightly before slamming him back against the wall, making him squeak.

Jasper’s eyes snapped open so he could glare at Archie. “Bastard.”

Archie chuckled . “You like it.” His hips pressed forward again, the friction between them unbearable, and Jasper couldn’t help but groan.

“Maybe,” Jasper admitted. “But don’t get cocky.” Archie was already cocky enough as it was.

Archie’s smile widened, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against Jasper’s ear. “Too late for that.” His teeth grazed the sensitive skin there, and Jasper’s breath hitched.

He moved his hands to Archie’s face, pulling him back to kiss him again. There was an edge of desperation to the kiss and the way their bodies moved together. Jasper’s fingers tangled in Archie’s hair, pulling hard enough to make him growl.

Archie’s hands moved to Jasper’s thighs, keeping him high enough to press their erections together. Jasper’s hips jerked forward. He craved more, but he wasn’t sure when Archie would give it to him.

“Archie,” Jasper gasped, his voice rough with need. “Fuck me.”

Archie’s eyes darkened, and his grip on Jasper’s thighs tightened. “Say it again.”

Jasper’s lips curled into a smirk. Archie wasn’t the only one in control. “Fuck. Me.”

Archie didn’t need to be told a third time.

He lowered Jasper to the ground, turning him around and pressing him against the wall, his body covering Jasper’s completely.

His hands moved to Jasper’s jeans, yanking them down in one swift motion as soon as he had the belt unbuckled.

The sound of metal hitting the floor was loud, but Jasper was distracted.

Jasper braced himself against the wall and sucked in a breath as Archie’s hands roamed over his exposed skin, leaving trails of fire that made Jasper want to scream. Archie’s lips pressed against the back of Jasper’s neck, his teeth grazing the skin as his hands gripped Jasper’s hips.

“You’re mine,” Archie whispered, his voice a dark promise.

Jasper’s eyes fluttered closed. It was nuts because Jasper had been a hunter and Archie was a monster, and they’d just met, but Jasper didn’t care. “Yeah,” he breathed. “I’m yours.”

Archie’s fingers trailed lower, brushing against Jasper’s entrance, the touch light but enough to make Jasper’s breath hitch.

He pressed back as Archie slid one finger inside him, and his hips jerked.

The bastard had found lube somewhere, and Jasper wasn’t even surprised.

It felt like a very Archie thing to be prepared.

“More,” Jasper demanded. The push and pull between him and Archie was infuriating and delicious.

Archie chuckled. “Patience.”

He added another finger. The stretch made Jasper groan, his hands clenching into fists against the wall. Archie’s fingers moved inside him, twisting and curling, hitting a spot that made Jasper’s vision blur.

“Fuck,” Jasper gasped. He reached for his erection, stroking himself in time with Archie’s movements.

Archie’s lips pressed against Jasper’s ear, his breath hot against Jasper’s skin. “You’re so fucking tight,” he murmured.

Jasper’s eyes fluttered closed. “Then stop teasing and fuck me already.”

Archie withdrew his fingers, leaving Jasper feeling empty and desperate. When Archie stepped back, Jasper turned to face him.

Archie’s hands moved to his own jeans, yanking them open and freeing his erection.

The sight made Jasper’s mouth water, but Archie distracted him when he stepped forward, pressing Jasper back against the wall, their bodies plastered together from chest to thigh.

Their dicks slid against each other, and Jasper screwed his eyes shut.

He wasn’t going to come before Archie got inside him, dammit.

“You’re sure?” Archie asked. “I’m a monster, and you were a hunter. This probably isn’t the smartest idea.”

Jasper’s eyes opened to narrowed slits, and he reached down, gripping Archie’s erection with a firm hand. “Do I look unsure to you?”

“No,” Archie said with a grin. “You look desperate.”

Jasper shook his head even though Archie wasn’t wrong. He was going to scream if Archie didn’t get inside him. “Then stop talking and fuck me. I want this, and I don’t care that you’re a monster.” And he hoped that Archie wouldn’t care that he was a former hunter.

Archie didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed Jasper’s hips, lifting him up and pushing him against the wall.

His tip pressed against Jasper’s entrance, and he pushed forward, the stretch making Jasper gasp.

He gripped Archie’s shoulders as Archie slid inside of him, stretching him more than he’d expected.

“Fuck,” Jasper said on a gasp, his body arching into the touch. He wrapped his legs around Archie’s waist, keeping him close. It was overwhelming in the best of ways.

Archie kissed Jasper. His hips moved, thrusting into Jasper with a force that made them both groan and pant into each other’s mouths.

Jasper gripped Archie’s hair hard as their bodies moved together, the rhythm fast and desperate. “Harder,” he demanded. He wanted to grab Archie’s antlers, but he didn’t know how Archie would feel about that, and he wasn’t in the mood to ask right now.

Archie’s lips curled into a wicked smile, and he obeyed, driving into Jasper with a force that left him breathless. His hands gripped Jasper’s hips, pulling him closer and fucking him deeper.

“You’re mine,” Archie repeated.

Jasper’s eyes fluttered closed, his body trembling with pleasure. “Yeah,” he breathed. “I’m yours.” He didn’t know how much of this was the moment and how much was true, but he didn’t care right now.

Jasper scrambled to hold on, even though it didn’t look like Archie needed his help.

He was relentless, fucking Jasper until he felt he couldn’t breathe.

Jasper gripped Archie’s shoulders, his nails digging into the skin as he clung to him.

The sensation of being filled and claimed so thoroughly drove him closer to the edge.

“Archie,” he gasped. “I’m close.”

Archie’s lips pressed against Jasper’s ear. “Come for me, baby.”

Jasper arched his back when his release washed over him in waves of pleasure. Archie’s hips jerked forward, and he pinned Jasper to the wall, but Jasper didn’t mind. He didn’t think he could move, anyway.

They stayed pressed together. Jasper could feel Archie’s cock pulse inside his body.

They hadn’t used a condom, and they needed to talk about that, but monsters had stronger immune systems than humans.

Jasper had never heard of any of them getting sick, so he doubted that Archie could give him anything, or the other way around.

Still, it would be worth talking about if they were going to do this again.

He hoped they would.

Eventually, Archie slipped out of Jasper, and Jasper cautiously slid his legs down.

He slumped against the wall as he caught his breath.

Archie’s hands moved to Jasper’s face while gazing at him so tenderly it surprised Jasper.

Archie brushed his thumb over Jasper’s cheekbone in a gesture that would be out of place if this were a one-night stand, but it wasn’t, was it?

“You’re mine,” Archie whispered.

Jasper’s lips curled into a smile. “Yeah,” he breathed. “I’m yours.”