King of Sloth (Kings of Sin, #4)

by Ana Huang

“I have a solution to your problem.”

“Your father’s will says you have to assume the CEO position. It didn’t specify what you have to be the CEO of.”

“Sloane Kensington, I like the way you think.”

Valhalla was an ultraexclusive club for the world’s wealthiest and most powerful. It had chapters all over the globe, and I was a member thanks to my mother, a descendant of one of the founding families. My father had made his fortune, but my mother had been born into money.

I wished she were here

After having her around twenty-four-seven for over a week, I missed her.

I had no idea what it was like to live without that financial cushion, and to be honest, the thought terrified me.

If Dante made it his job to know everything, Kai’s job was to know everything.

my mother’s bear family crest was carved in between the Russos’ dragon and the Youngs’ lion.

Fact #3: If I didn’t at least try, I would regret it forever. Out of all life’s questions, what if was one of the worst.

There’s potential in each and every one of us, and I hope you fulfill yours to the point of happiness.

I couldn’t change the past. I could, however, dictate my future.

He was a temporary pet I’d adopted after the previous tenant left him behind five years ago, hence why I’d simply named him The Fish.

I did not appreciate being ganged up on.

I don’t understand why you insisted on updating me in person when texts, phone calls, and emails exist.”

“True, but then I wouldn’t get to see you.”

I knew enough to do my job, but I wasn’t a nightlife aficionado.

And when he let out a tortured “fuck” and dipped his head, molding his mouth to mine, it didn’t even occur to me to pull away. This was the world, and I never wanted to leave.

I, Sloane Kensington, was attracted to Xavier Castillo. No, not just attracted to, but liked. Enough to forget my strict rules about not getting involved with clients. Enough to let him kiss me and to kiss him back.

I’m so fucked.

Kissing Sloane had been a mistake. Not because I regretted doing it, but because once I did it, I couldn’t imagine not doing it again.

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

Let’s have lunch.”

“It’s eleven a.m.”

“Then let’s have ...

“Go on a date with me,”

“No.”

“Why not? And forget about your job for a second. Give me a real reason, Sloane.”

Odds were, she was picturing stabbing me with it, but I didn’t mind a little hypothetical violence...

I’d never felt this nervous over someone, ever.

I knew all this, yet I didn’t care. I wanted her too much, and I wanted this, whatever this was, to work. Even if it didn’t, I had to at least try.

I could and did take care of myself. I didn’t want to play the damsel in distress, and I didn’t need a man barging in to reiterate things I’d already said. But fuck, sometimes it felt good to have backup, especially when it came wrapped in muscles and devastating charm.

Why are you being so insistent about this?”

“Because I want you.”

“I don’t want a kiss or a one-night stand,” he said. “I want you. I want to know you outside work. I want to take you on real dates. And I don’t know if it’ll work out in the end, but I want us to at least try.”

I’m afraid of letting someone in again. I’m afraid of getting my heart broken. I’m afraid that, if you get to know the real me, you’ll find me unlovable like everyone else, and it’ll hurt so much more because it’s you.

I was the odd one out. I didn’t mind it; I would rather be single and content than in a relationship and miserable. But there were slivers of time when I wondered how it would feel to exist in the world knowing there was someone who loved me totally, unconditionally, and whole-heartedly for who I was instead of who they wanted me to be.

“Are you ever going to tell me why you call me Luna?”

“One day.”

“If you’re really nic...

“I’m nice to you ri...

“You forgot a...

“Really nice. What does that entail,...

“Perhaps, but not tonight.”

“I don’t pass first base on the first date. What kind of man do you think I am?”

“You’re telling me you’ve never done more than kiss someone ...

“I have, but that was years ago, we weren’t dating, and I wasn’t trying to woo them.”

“Is that what you’re trying to do? Woo me?”

“Depends.”

“Is it wo...