Guarded by the Snake

Monster Security Agency #2

by Layla Fae

She stole her way into my cold, serpent heart like a thief in the night.
The tiny human hires me to shield her from the vengeance of a powerful organization. There’s nothing wrong with that, except she stole from them, got caught, and now I have to clean up her mess. Add to that her incessant chatter, and I’m in for the most unpleasant job in my career.

Until her enemies bring out the big guns, turning the irksome protection assignment into a lethal fight for survival. Necessity pushes my principal closer and closer—too close for comfort. Forced to hide in small spaces, her skin rubbing against my scales, her warm breath on my face, my exasperation gives way to lust.

It’s just physical attraction, I tell myself. All I want is to bury my two spikes in her tight body and feel her writhing under me in pleasure. Nothing more than that. Because it’s impossible I could want her–the annoying, ballsy little thief who makes the sun shine with a smile.

One thing is certain: this is no longer just a job. I’ll butcher everyone who wants to hurt her.

Monster Security Agency is the most elite bodyguard service in the world. These monster bodyguards are lethal, powerful, and determined to protect their clients at all costs. They shouldn't fall in love with their principals, but if they do? Things are bound to explode.

Here come spicy, romantic, and action-packed tales by your favorite paranormal and monster romance authors: Cassie Alexander, Layla Fae, and Cara Wylde. Dive into the world of the Monster Security Agency.

This book can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Romance, Monsters, Fantasy, Paranormal, Monster Romance, Forced Proximity, Paranormal Romance

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2024

About the author

Sign up for my newsletter: here.
Layla Fae writes steamy monster romance of many varieties. Fluffy or dark, with TWs ranging from flavored monster essence used as food to blood play and dark taboo romance, she explores the fantasy of monster love from various angles.
She is not an author for the faint of heart.

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i heard the hero has two.. snakes 👀

[Layla Fae]

I keep rereading the smut, don't judge me

[Christina (stinarinareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25✨
3🌶️

Sssssssslay🐍

Layla Fae cooked with this one. She served DINNER. I’m talking appetizer, main course, dessert, and even a freaking soda.

If you’re looking for a fun monster x human romp that’s hawt with a capital H, and is a semi-fast burn that still has some substance and a mostly sensical plot, look no further than this little gem.

Bodyguard romance? 😩👌 Snake monster bodyguard romance???????? 😩👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

📖 ~280 pages on phone screen
📖 Erotic monster romance with basic background action subplot, mostly as a vehicle for the romance development
📖 Monster bodyguard (MMC)
📖 Human thief (FMC)
📖 HEA
📖 No romance safety warnings come to mind
🌶️ 2 🍆🍆 (or spikes for shehru)
🌶️ Just the tip™️
🌶️ Dirrrrty talk & praise
🌶️ Tail action
🌶️ Double 🍆🍆 (same MMC)

Our FMC Kim has trained herself to become a thief in order to get revenge on her father’s former business partner — and murderer. When a plan goes slightly awry, and Kim finds herself facing the full force of her enemy, she enlists the help of the Monster Security Agency, and in particular, Asan, the ruthless shehru agent, a snake like creature.

The pair is forced to hide in close quarters during their travels, and it seems the closer they become physically, the closer they get to actually wanting to become… physical😏 Monster x human relations aren’t entirely uncommon, but a shehru and a human? Impossible… right?

The spice, when they both give into temptation, is gloriously hot. Double spike alert🍆🍆😈 They both learn each other, learn to accept the other, and Asan guides Kim through it all. This leans heavily into Just the Tip™️ dirty talking trope, so if you like that in your spice, you’re in for a real treat with this one. I’m so surprised that in all the books I’ve read I haven’t come across this trope yet🤭

I just had a super good feeling about this one, and I’m so glad this lived up to the hype for me!🙌

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - umm, this altered my brain chemistry.

I was just trying to be open minded about the whole snake thing (“his top half is anthropomorphic (human like) and his bottom half is snake like, but he can stay upright? His sense of balance must be crazy good”) and quickly went to “guhhhhh, this is so unexpectedly sexy.” Who am I?? Asan was like a weighted blanket and a hot male in one.

Loved the story (he’s an monster bodyguard for hire, she’s a human thief who needs protection, they’re on the run for most of the book), the quiet predator and bouncy prey dynamic (there is a lot of coiling around her to hold her still), and the all the coaxing dirty talk which was sheer perfection. 🥵🥵🥵

This is my official nomination for the praise kink hall of fame.

[Ashton Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
~snake monster hero 🐍
~bodyguard hero
~forced proximity
~grumpy x sunshine
~revenge trope
~one bed
~touch her and you die vibes
~praise kink (a lot of it)
~size difference (hero has 2 huge 🍆)

Y'all, this was a RIDE! I love the bodyguard trope, and I also love a scary reptilian hero, so as soon as I saw the cover and blurb I immediately downloaded it from KU. And it did not disappoint! Sure, there was a bit of a plot where the heroine is a thief who is out for revenge against her father's killer. But the real star of the show was the smut. Because my goodness was it ever steamy! The amount of praise kink had me sweating. 🥵 And yes, you have to suspend your disbelief a bit with the size difference, but it does have an explanation at the end.

I saw that there's another book in this series coming out in a few days that involves a spider bodyguard hero, and you can bet that I'll be giving that one a try. I don't know why, but heroes that look too much like certain furry mammals (mainly cats) are a no for me, but give me allll the lizard, snake, and spider men lmao.


If this song was Taylor Swift lyrics:

"You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound"

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS PURE FUN AND SEXYYYY AND ALSO HE HAS TWO DICKS WHAT A WIN🤭

[el · Rating 3 out of 5]

monster fuckers, i am now ON YOUR SIDE!

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun! I love Layla Fae's monsters and their ladies.

This snake man was grumpy and protective and had a very dirty mouth.

What's not to like?

5 stars
4 on the spice scale

[Bluestockings Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Favorite rare microtrope/kink alert! ✨

✅ I read this after seeing girlwithhearteyes's great review, although tbh she had me at 'weighted blanket'. Hey, it's a thing! Some of us just want to feel our souls squeezed back inside our bodies. Not sure what it's called, but this book has more of it than anything I've read!

✅ It also has some of the highest levels of coaxing/soothing dirty talk I've encountered. Which is just about my favorite thing ever. Holy hell🥵! I made so many highlights.

✅ She triggers his prey drive, and not in that metaphorical "I shall seduce her" sort of way. She's just so damn fidgety that she constantly sets off his primal hunting instincts! 😂💃🐍🤣

✅ Third Act/Ending: No breakup! External conflict. They are ambushed, he's knocked out, she's kidnapped, she thinks he's dead. HEA with twins, mention of them getting fertility help.

(My only micro-criticism: Supposedly shehru and humans have coexisted for millennia, but them having sex was unheard of. Taboo? Sure. But unheard of 🤨? Sorry but Rule 34 is an immutable law in every universe.)

TLDR this book is for people who like:

| mid-low angst | bodyguard | forced proximity | grumpy/sunshine | protective MMC | morally gray FMC | no virgins | coaxing dirty talk | praise | size difference | creative anatomy( x 2!) | bear hugs dialed up to 11 |

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 I'm Just Here for the Smut Stars!

“So that’s how it smells when you’re aroused,” he said, his throat vibrating. “You smell so good, little pet.”

Asan the snake has to protect Kim the thief but there's so much more at play here than either of them realize. When their attraction grows...all bets are off.

“I’ll kiss you, pet,” I said, watching her face with complete focus. I wanted to see what my words did to her. “And after I kiss you, I’ll wrap myself around you until you can’t move, can’t run, can’t resist. I’ll make you come like I did in that nightclub, and then I’ll strip you bare and fuck you.”

Asan is hesitant at first to give in to the attraction to Kim but he eventually folds and Kim is willing to give their relationship a fighting chance.

“I want to bite you to be inside you more,” he hissed, gently rolling my nipple between his fingers. “And I’m sorry, pet, but I want to scar your pretty skin. Just a small bite people will see and know instantly it’s mine. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”

Pretty decent on plot and heavy on smut, I enjoyed this monster romance.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was far better than it has any right to be! Bodyguard/client with a mildly grumpy hero and a forcing herself to act sunshiny heroine. Deliciously wonderful praise that you feel deep in your soul (no mere occasional "good girl" here!) coupled with gentle but firm coaxing, a hyper-protective but still respectful MMC, and true physical differences between the monster MMC and human FMC. Just wow.

I do find it very hard to believe that no human and shehru ever boinked before. Not ever? It's practically a cliche in fantasy/sci-fi romance that humans are the universe's sluttiest sentient beings! And shehru have a) two dicks. b) are essentially their own rope kits and c) get really frickin' horny after they molt. You can't tell me no human has at least tried.

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super steamy monster sex with a great story!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤❤️💜🩵
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☹️☺️😊🥰😍

The Hero: Asan - he is a sherhu, which is not a snake, he is humanoid on his top half and snakelike on the bottom half. Though he moved like a snake, he wore clothing to make him look more presentable and less monstrous. He worked for the Monster Security Agency, taking on dangerous missions as a bodyguard whenever he could. This time he took a job that he wanted to get done with quickly since it was nearly time for him to molt and he liked to spend a lot of that time in the pool under the agency. He is hired to protect Kim Schmidt.

The heroine: Kim - she is a human girl with no digital footprint or online presence. She has no social media, no school records, no relatives, and no address on file, though her drivers license checks out. Kim is a thief, and she bungled her last job, and the victim of her crime is now after her. He is Maximillian Rossi, the owner of Vanguard Cybersystems, and he is one of the most powerful people in Los Angeles.

The story: Asan doesn’t want the job because he has no respect for someone who would be so arrogant and incompetent to think they could go up against one of the most high-tech cybersecurity companies in the world. Since Kim messed up the job, he knew she had high expectations for herself and thought she was better than she actually was. He disliked working for people like that and was inclined to turn down the job. Clients like that often thought they knew better than everyone else and did what they wanted which often landed them in hot water. Though he took the job because he new that he would do a better job than some of the other agents and he would feel guilty if an of them were killed because he turned down a job.

“Spending time in her company, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, would be an ordeal. My head already hurt at the amount of effort it would take me to remain professional. Getting shot at on the job? Easy. Eliminating threats and losing tails? Sign me up.
But being stuck with someone you had no respect for and couldn’t trust? Fuck. This. Shit.”

I have to admit that I went into this one not knowing at all what to expect. I just finished reading book 8 in this same series, Guarded by a Nightmare and was very impressed with that book, especially because it was so original, and the monster was a kind I had never heard of before and he had some cool powers. A different author wrote this one, though I had also just recently read a book by Layla Fae that I liked quite a bit. So, I figured I would give it a try.

I have read quite a bit of alien and monster romance so I have read some books before where the Hero is a Naga (snake man), so I figured this one would be similar. Though I was a bit worried by the disclaimer at the beginning of the book that said, “Please, suspend your disbelief while reading chapter 15, chapter 16, chapter 19, chapter 20, chapter 21, chapter 25, chapter 26, and chapter 27. If you need a logical explanation for why the puzzle pieces that have no business fitting together actually fit, it’s provided later in the book.” Though that also had my interest piqued a bit.

The storyline about Rossi trying to get Kim and the statue she stole from him was a good one, there was plenty of suspense, intrigue and action. The intimate scenes were steamy, and I won’t get into it anymore than that. There was also a side storyline about their “interspecies” relationship. This was set in a world where monsters were well known to humans and accepted in society, but the idea of a sherhru and a human relationship was not at all accepted by either race. Asan didn’t even know if the two species were compatible at the beginning of the book. He didn’t even want to imagine it until he started to have feelings for Kim, and others made it known to them that it was not acceptable.

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[omega’s rights activist · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 rounded up because it was short and easy and satisfying

[Kimberlylovesreadingbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Am a snake for you" or whatever Britney said🤣🤣🤣

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn’t put it down/ action/monster romance/HEA

I couldn’t put this book down. It kept me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed this. It has a good plot, action, spiceeeee and a good ending. I only wish it had more epilogue but that’s personal preference.

Things 💦🌰
-Our h hires herself a monster bodyguard to help keep her safe while she’s trying to take down the guy who killed her dad while she was younger.

-bodygaurd snake
-little thief h in hiding
-spicyyyyy
-stretching
-size difference
-2 🍆 and their monster size
-🍑
- 💦 🥜 likes to fill her up until she’s dripping
-squirtinggggg 💦 every time their intimate
-action! safe houses, hacking, and all the good on the run type things to beat the bad guy.
-praise
-he talks her through taking him and it so hot
-calls her pet, love, sweetheart, baby, squirrel
-HEA/HFN.
-standalone .. I didn’t was any other books in this series before this one and I’ve never read this authors but I’m going to go find more in this series and check the out. Really liked this

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.. 🥵

Bodyguard
Praise kink
Opposites attract
Double pen

[T.P.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book that I have read in this series and it did have a certain appeal as the MMC and s a rather interesting species. I liked the idea of multiple species among humans, but it was evident that there was a divide among the society. Each community seems to have their own space and mixing with the humans sometimes is frowned upon.

The story itself is very straightforward, she falls head over heels with her bodyguard. The MMC is slightly hesitant and he did try to avoid any personal entanglements with his clients. However, when he realised there is s more to the woman that he is paid to protect, things progress pretty fast.

Overall, this was an alright story, not something that I absolutely loved, but still a decent quick read.

[❥ Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fuck me, bite me, and get me that ring”

Layla Fae’s literary masterpiece, “Guarded By The Snake” changed my life 😌🙏🏻

Kim is hiding out from the man she stole from, so she hires Asan as her bodyguard. Asan is massive, has a snake tail and two giant dicks. He is a gentle, smooth talking GOD who praises and coaxes his girl into taking all of him.

”Just the tip for now, pet. You can take the tip.”

“You’re so good for me, pet,” he said, his coils moving under and around me in a comforting caress. “You’re taking almost all of it now. Such a good girl. So generous. Will you let me fill you up? I want to fill you to the brim. Make you so full of me, nothing else fits. Will you let me?”

Im not going to lie, it’s the exceptional smut that sold me but the story flowed smoothly and the characters are both smart and likable.

As someone who doesn’t read much monster romance and HATES snakes I was surprised by how much I liked this but the dirty, coaxing “you can take it”, “you’re doing so good for me” talk sent me to the next dimension.

[christy - pr0bablyreadingsmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

grumpy snake mmc??? bodyguard romance??? forbidden love trope????? super frickin spicy smut scenes?????????? i’m so sold. holyyyy molyyyyy i loved this story. this was so high stakes, so smutty and delicious, but so so so sweet also.

five thieving stars

[Jac K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on holiday because I wanted something light. I really thought it was going to be more smut based, and alien/monster smut can be entertaining sometimes. (I saw this recommended online somewhere) It wasn’t super smutty, I think they only do it in maybe 6 or 7 chapters and it takes like 60% of the book to get there which was good with me because honestly it was weird, and not sexy at all. There were two REALLY large scaly spikes involved, the h was really into size, that’s all I’m going to say… so I didn’t mind the lack of smut at all.

I enjoyed the relationship building between Asan and Kim and the intricacies of the prejudices of their interspecies dating, but it felt like there wasn’t enough plot to support the page length, so the storyline dragged in places.

Asan is a shehru, he has a human-ish upper body with scales, slitted eyes, and a forked tongue, but his lower half is completely snake-like. He works for Moster Security Agency and is hired by Kim a human in hiding as a bodyguard. Shehru/human relationships are VERY taboo, but the two find themselves forming an attachment that goes beyond friendship.

Bottom Line- Pretty good. I think it ran about 50 pages too long, and Kim was a bit too much at times. I think she’s supposed to be quirky and cute, but she’s a grownup, so her TSTL stuff got tiring. I mean if she was a badass, I could maybe see it, but she had ZERO self-defense skills. So, we're left with her constantly being reckless and getting him shot. 🤦‍♀️Asan was great though. Despite all that, I liked them together. Believable chemistry. HEA. Both have epilogues. Available on KU.

** If you did enjoy this and haven't already, I recommend Wed to the Lich my favorite book by this author.

[Jay Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. I was giggling so much with how smutty this book good. It just reminded me how much of a monster whore romance girly I am.

Like who would turn down two cocks and a tail?

Not me!

Tropes
Dislike to Love
Bodyguard romance
Interracial / Monster and Human.
Grumpy Sunshine
Dirty Talk

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

two stars, one for each penis

[ChasxSabri💗🫧 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way he talked her through it? That’s a man right there 🥰

[Lori R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was ssss-soooo good! *full review to come*

[Laura LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

Another great monster security agency book. I am anxious to read the next. Kim and Asan definitely deserve the HEA. This book had exciting, scary and such love moments. I definitely loved that he keeps his promise:) I definitely recommend.

[Juju ♡ ～('▽^人) · Rating 2 out of 5]

way better written than the first one. from development of a relationship, to the concept, to...smut >_>

[Alex Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

Shockingly good. Guess I’m into snakes now. So glad this book awoke that in me. Excellent.
Lots of action, lots of smut. Perfect damsel in distress and no real relationship angst.

I really enjoyed that the MMC (Asan) started the book resentful and distrustful of the FMC and they had to build a relationship. First into trust then respect then love.

I also like that he wasn’t attracted to her at all at first and as he started liking her he began to find her attractive.
She also fidgets which annoys him to no end since his predatory instincts track her movements and draws attention to where she taps her thighs or lips. He then finds great satisfaction in subduing her. It gets pretty kinky actually.
And I adore that all those things about her that he hates become his favorite things.


Monster who looks monstrous. Bodyguard romance. Scenting. Initially disgusted by each other. She is a thief, motivated by revenge and he is all too happy to help her. Can sense lying by sensing temperature and pulse. Double peens. Snake peens (tapered tips). DVP. Anal. Restraints. Massive cocks. Stuffing/stretching. Literal changed anatomy to fit. Damsel in distress. Mural pining. No OWD/OMD. No virgins. No cheating. Touch her and die (and with follow through). Self sacrifice (by both MCs). Twin girls in epilogue.

[Frida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, well, well, this book turned out to be quite the surprise package!! I mean, who knew monster romance with a snake could be this entertaining?

The FMC is smart, seeking for revenge but also massive sunshine! The hero? Total “touch her and die” vibes—classic! Plus, his dirty talk game? Absolutely on point. The spice level? Off the charts! It's like a slow-cooked dish of attraction and love, simmering until it reaches that perfect, mouth-watering moment. And when the tension finally snaps? Oh boy, talk about fireworks! I loved how he talked her through their act because we are talking about size differences, the eternal question of “will it fit,” and even the unexpected bonus of two peens and fangs. But, it's not all about the steamy scenes; there's actually a plot here too! Sure, it's not the most complex storyline, but it's still engaging and keeps you hooked till the very end. And kudos to Layla Fae for packing all that goodness into just 246 pages—talk about efficient storytelling!

[Cat H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 stars.
Whoa. Holy hotness, Batman.
The smut in this book was absolutely top tier.
And the relationship was so good too. 🫢
Yes.
Just yes.

[Kit Sinatra · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5
Just ok for me, I didn’t love either the heroine or the H.