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The Viper’s Heart

(Balance Series 1)

by Lisa Oliver

Book One of the Balance Series.
Can be read as a standalone.
Botis, demon lord and ruler of sixty legions is having a rough day. Lucifer set him on a quest to find the potion given to Gilgamesh thousands of years before, which should be easy enough. But being told a visit to the Angel Raziel was a necessary part of the mission wasn't so easy to understand. Everyone knew that demons and angels didn't mix, and angels were strictly off limits for his kind. Which was a shame because the moment Botis set eyes on the sexy Raziel his imagination ran into overdrive.
Raziel has a cruisy life. As the Angel of Secrets there aren't many who darken his door with requests for finding strange artifacts any more, but he's content. He has his shop, his taxi and his good friends, Anael and Uriel. Having Lucifer in his cab was the first sign things were about to change, but when Botis walks into his shop, Raziel starts to seriously reconsider his angelic abilities. No demon should be able to tempt him, so why was he affected by Botis's sheer presence?
Soon enough, Raziel and Botis learn their meeting was no accident. With forces at work beyond their control, they have to learn to rely on each other if they are going to beat the odds stacked against them. But how is that possible when Raziel's untouchable, and Botis doesn't have a heart?
Warning: Graphic M/M content.
This book is on:
  • 5 To Be Read lists
  • 9 Read lists
Excerpt:

Raziel dropped his wrench through the engine, and cursed, almost hitting his head on the hood of his taxi as he stood up. He crouched and peered below the bumper. Too much to hope that it’d fallen where he could reach it. He wiggled half under the vehicle, his hand straining to reach the tool he needed.

“My, my, that is a sexy sight.” No. It couldn’t be. Ever since Anael revealed his connection to the demon the night before, Raziel had refused to discuss or think about anything remotely connected to Botis. It was the weekend; he didn’t need to open his shop or drive anywhere and he had a list of chores he’d decided to tackle after his sensuous dreams starring the demon forced him from his bed before the birds. Now the wretched man was stalking him in his garage!

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Scuttling out from under the car, Raziel stood, brushing a hand through his messy hair. “This is my private space,” he said with as much firmness as he could muster. “You’ve no right being here.”

“Oh, I think I do,” Botis said, leaning on the garage doorframe, his teeth in perfect view. In contrast to his leather club look, or the suit he’d worn when he’d visited Raziel’s shop, the white muscle shirt, blue jeans and black boots were a welcome change. His long black leather coat was the only concession Botis’d made to the chilly air. “I’m sure you got the memo. Head Office has decided you and I are the penultimate match. I’ve come to claim what’s mine.”

“Not in this lifetime,” Raziel said, hefting his wrench. He was overwhelmingly conscious of his ripped jeans and t-shirt and he wouldn’t be surprised if he had grease on his face. “Anael mentioned he saw a connection between us, but I’ve put in a call to Gabriel. I’m sure this will all be sorted out soon enough.”

“But you want me,” Botis said, his smile getting wider. He tilted his sunglasses onto the top of his head, which shouldn’t look sexy but it did. As Raziel expected Botis’s eyes were black but their flames were hot, vibrant. “You don’t like it, but you want me something fierce. I’m more than happy to oblige.”

“I’m an angel, built to withstand temptation from the likes of you,” Raziel said, knowing every word Botis said was true. “I was never intended to be a demon’s casual plaything, and nothing you’ve said convinces me you want anything more. Do you deny it?”

Raziel watched as Botis went to open his mouth, probably to spout a set of lies. The sort of lies any demon would tell to achieve their objectives. But the demon never said anything. In fact, it looked as though Botis was trying to speak, but couldn’t.

“You can’t lie to me?” Suddenly the playing field was a lot more level. “You can’t, can you?” Raziel added when it seemed like Botis tried to say something else but his mouth wouldn’t work. “You were going to give me some cock-and-bull story about us being mates; wanting us to be together forever, just so you could get into my pants, but you can’t say the words.”

“No, I can’t, and that means I’ve been changed in a way that’s just not cool,” Botis snarled. “Don’t you get it? This doesn’t just impact me. We’re both more fucked than I thought we’d be. I’ve got to talk to Lucifer, but believe if I have anything to do with it; you won’t be seeing me again. There’s no way I’m giving up my life for a fuck, even with an angel as hot as you.” With one last scorching look from those mesmerizing eyes, and a flare of his leather coat Botis disappeared.

Adult Excerpt

A simple wish and he felt dampness around his ass. Perfect. He could sense Botis’s struggle; his natural inclinations warring with his desire to do no harm and Raziel wasn’t having that. If they were to be mated for all eternity, Botis needed to realize he was stronger than he looked. Taking advantage of Botis’s need and confused feelings, Raziel gripped him firmly by the biceps and rolled them both. Another thought had them centered on the bed.

“What the…?” Botis was the picture of debauchery but Raziel didn’t waste time appreciating the scenery. He had to move fast. Sitting up, he grabbed Botis’s cock and positioned it where it needed to be. One quick shove and Raziel tensed as his insides strained under the stretch.

“Raziel, no!” Botis grabbed his hips as though to pull him off, but Raziel was made of stronger stuff. Forcing the air from his lips, he felt his insides give way. Another thought and more lube eased his descent. Fuck…this is one big demon, he thought as his body fought to accommodate Botis’s length.

Botis lay like a statue beneath him, rigid, tense, his jaw clenched. “I’ll hurt you,” he muttered.

“You didn’t last time but I’m thrilled you care,” Raziel said, letting out another long breath. Yes, that’s better. His butt cheeks hit Botis’s legs and the demon groaned but didn’t move. Raziel leaned over slowly, lightly kissing Botis’s collarbone. Tension poured off Botis’s body in waves and Raziel didn’t need to be a mind reader to know his demon was imagining them in a totally different position. Hopefully one day soon, he thought as he sat up, deciding to take a more proactive approach.

Grabbing one of Botis’s hands from where they were gripped in the coverlets, he wrapped it around his cock. “Oh yes,” he said. “You hang on to that, and I’ll….” He got his legs under him and rose up a few inches, sinking back down again just as quickly. Amazing.

Botis’s cock scorched his insides. Raziel moved again and again, each rise and plunge deeper than the last. At first Botis refused to move at all; his chest heaving the only motion. Raziel closed his eyes, and leaving one hand on Botis’s chest, he used the other to tighten the grip on his cock. “Oh yeah, just like that.” Raziel knew he sounded like a B-grade porno, but a slight hitch in his angle and Botis’s cock was rubbing his prostate in a delicious fashion. He groaned, the sensations sending tingles up and down his spine. Instinctively he moved faster, wanting more of the shiver, the pressure building in his balls.

COLLAPSE
Reviews:Kristy on amazon.com wrote:

I love Lisa's books! Any of them! They are an auto buy for me.

I have to admit tho I was a little nervous getting this book. Starting new characters, learning them. Discovering a new world. Figuring out what they were all about and how every worked.

After the first chapter I forgot about all of that! Good Lord! This new series is amazing. I am in awe at her world building. How she makes you feel like you are really there, with them. You see what you see.

One of the best thing about her writing is that she let's you see both sides of the point of view. I have learned that not all authors can do this. You only see through one of their eyes and you are always wondering how the other person is feeling. What the other person is doing. You don't with her books. She is a true talent!!

Thank you Lisa for an other amazing world that I was able to loose myself in not the best time of my life.

You will continue to be one of two of the auto buy for me!!!

B. Hall on amazon.com wrote:

I have been a huge fan of Lisa Oliver's writing for some time. This book just proves how amazing she is!! A whole new world of Angels and Demons that are sometimes just too human. Loved her take on the whole mating between them. It wasn't an instant love, there were some road blocks, feelings (some they weren't used to) and some great smexy times as well. It was very interesting that it's a modern tale, set in modern times and the "head office" decreed what it did!!! I can't wait to get the second in the series and see what is in store for Anael!!!

Kindle Customer on amazon.com wrote:

I'm impressed. I didn't think anything could measure up to the Cloverleah Pack, especially not angels and demons, but I enjoyed this book and the character building for the coming books and scenes just gets better with everything you write. I cannot wait to read about the next pairing. I also want to see more of the demon world and the angel world was barely glimpsed.... I hope we get to see a little more of them


About the Author

Lisa Oliver's first fiction book was The Reluctant Wolf, book one in the Cloverleah series. Since then she's written more than ninety other titles spanning a number of different series including Bound and Bonded, Stockton Wolves, Balance, The God's Made Me Do it, City Dragons, The Necromancer's Smile, and the Alpha and Omega series. A huge fan of the true mate trope, Lisa's books are all paranormal, all M/M (although a few M/M/M have crept in too) and all have an HEA.

When not writing, Lisa can be found with her nose in a book. Her adult children and grandchildren have found the best way to get her off the computer is to offer her chocolate.