Wicked Beautiful (Wicked Games, #1)

by J.T. Geissinger

‘The thing women have yet to learn is that nobody gives you power. You just take it.’ Sounds simple enough, right? The problem with that is that it assumes the source of power is outside you. It isn’t. You already have all the power you need, but you’ve been giving it away. You’ve been trading it, bartering it, squandering it, because your need to be liked is stronger than your need to honor yourself. Every time you don’t speak up if you’re disrespected, every time you say ‘yes’ when you should say ‘no,’ every time you put someone else’s needs or desires ahead of your own, you give away your power. And what do you get in return?”

“Bob Marley said, ‘You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.’

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’”

“Parker—” “Ask me.” “We agreed on just one date, remember?” “Victoria. Ask me.” Instead, I stall. “Are you always this stubborn?” He ignores that. Staring deep into my eyes, he orders, “Ask me to kiss you, Victoria.” I make a sound of exasperation. He leans so lose to my face, his lips brush mine when he speaks. “You like the way I taste, remember? Now ask me. Then, after I’ve kissed you, I want to see if there’s anything else you’d like to ask me for.”

“So that feeling I was telling you about yesterday? The one I can’t describe, that you called a crock of shit?” “Yeah?” He whispers, “It’s back. And it’s bigger than ever.”

“Don’t hide. Let me in. Let me see you. Please.”

“Why is it that you see me so clearly when no one else does?” A stray lock of hair is falling into her eyes. I brush it from her forehead. Keeping my voice low, I say, “Why is it that when I’m inside you, I feel like I’m finally home?”

“Yes, I love you for your mind. And for your heart. And for your soul and your eyes and your hair and your smile and the way I feel like I’m ten feet tall when you look at me. I love you because I’m more me around you. Around you, I’m the best me I’ll ever be.”

‘The beautiful thing about life is, you always have the power to say, This is not how my story is going to end.’

“There’s no such thing as win-win. Someone wins and someone loses. Anyone who thinks differently is a child.” “Or in love,” he replies, his voice soft.

“I want to know all the dark places in you,” he whispers vehemently, his arms like a vise. “I want to be the one who has the key that unlocks all your bolted doors and chases away all the monsters you keep hidden behind them. I want to be the light inside your darkness. I want to be your rock and your safety net, the soft place you can fall.”

Hate will devour you. Anger, no matter how righteous it feels, is a straight, short path to hell. Only forgiveness will set you free. Only forgiveness can heal your scars. Forgiveness not only for those who’ve wronged you but also for yourself. Life is hard enough without making lovers of our demons.