Ana Huang

The fourth Kings of Sin book from NYT bestselling author Ana Huang's delicious new series of standalones, featuring seven steamy billionaires inspired by the seven deadly sins.

King of Sloth

Sophia

The physical attraction had been there since we met, but besides lighthearted flirting, I never made a move before Valhalla. I told myself I didn’t want to complicate our relationship or fuck up the terms of my allowance, when in reality, a part of me suspected that giving in to that attraction would spell the end for me.

Then we’d started working together and I’d discovered the layers beneath her rigid exterior. The intelligence. The conviction. The fierce loyalty to those she cared about. 

And I no longer suspected but knew, especially after that kiss, that Sloane Kensington was it. Just like that.

This is such a healthy approach omg I love him

“If you truly didn’t feel anything during our kiss, I’ll stop the car right now, and we’ll never discuss this again,” Xavier said quietly. “It won’t affect our work together, and we can pretend it never happened. But if there’s even a tiny part of you that thinks this can work...” He swallowed.

“I’m not saying we have to get married or jump into a long-term relationship, but I want us to let each other in. Doesn’t have to go all the way to the rooms where we keep our secrets. Even the entrance hall will do for now.”

Technically, he didn’t say anything at all; the questions came in the form of written notes. No one knew much about him beyond his business dealings, but according to rumors, his non-verbalism wasn’t due to medical reasons (legend had it he’d once said “thank you” to a Valhalla attendant). He just really fucking hated talking.

I didn’t want her. I needed her. Desperately.

I needed her the way the ocean tides needed the moon, and I would give anything for her to feel a fraction of the same way toward me

In a world of black and white, she was my kaleidoscope.

I’d spent my whole life chasing the next high. When you had everything, everything got boring fast. I wanted bigger, better, faster. I wanted something that would last, and when Sloane rolled to the side and curled up against me, I knew I’d found it.

This was my greatest high. Her, sated and happy, in my arms. Nothing in the world could ever beat this moment.

Xavier stared at me, his eyes a hurricane of emotions I couldn’t decipher.

“I wish she could’ve met you,” he said, so quiet that I felt more than I heard his words. “She would’ve loved you.”

The tightness behind my ribs morphed into a raw, pervasive ache. It spread everywhere—my throat, my nose, behind my eyes and in the deepest grooves of my heart.

I didn’t cry, but this was the closest I’d come to doing so in a long, long time.

Kai studied me in that quiet, thoughtful way of his. Isabella’s face popped up over his shoulder again; this time, she gave me a double thumbs-up.

“Isa, love, stop talking to Sloane behind my back,” he said without turning around.

Her face fell. “How do you always know? I swear you’re not human,” she grumbled.

“Are you?” Xavier sounded skeptical, which I didn’t appreciate.

“Yes.” Fuck it. I was stirring. You couldn’t go wrong with a good stir.

“Not that I don’t believe you, darling, but your cupcakes are burning.”

The wail of the smoke alarm drowned out the last piece of his sentence, and an acrid smell filled my nostrils.

It was the way she moved, looser and more fluid than normal.

It was the way she carried herself, confidant with a hint of vulnerability.

And it was the way she commanded attention without trying, like she was a fucking goddes among mortals.

Joan 

Silver heels added four inches to her height, and her skin glowed like pearls kissed in moonlight.

I grimaced. Pearls kissed in moonlight? Where the hell had that come from? I wasn't a poetic person in the least, but she looked good enough to inspire Shakespear himself.

King of Sloth quotes

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