A Worthy Opponent (Wicked Villains, #3)

by Katee Robert

Happy? As if that’s even in the realm of possibility for me. Happy is for people who aren’t walking around with my kind of sins tattooed on their soul.

They all peel back the strength I worked so hard to build up around me. I start to shake. I’m not strong. I can fake it with the best of them, but when push comes to shove, I’m nothing more than the girl who was too weak to save herself.

At five foot, two inches, I’m what Meg fondly calls pixie-sized. A plus-sized pixie, rather. I snort.

I love my curves, love the fact that I get to choose my beautiful. If anyone has a problem with that, they can fuck right off.

My soul hates Hook. My body hasn’t gotten the memo. But then, my desires always did get me into trouble. The difference is that now I know enough to tell the difference between lust and something as ill-advised as falling in love with the wrong person.

If there’s one thing Hook and I share, and one thing only, it’s the boogeyman stuffed into our respective closets. The man who’s left scars on both our body and souls.

He catches my left hand, and I watch dazedly as he lifts it and strokes my knuckles. “My ring on your finger.” He gives a slow grin that has my stomach tying itself in knots. “I want everything, Tatiana. Absolutely fucking everything.”

I still haven’t escaped. I simply gave myself a five-year hiatus.

Been there, done that, bought a T-shirt, burned it to ash.

I don’t believe in knights on white horses. Maybe I did once, but the only people out there searching for damsels in distress are more dangerous than anything said damsel leaves behind. Hook is just like the rest of them, always playing a deeper game.

Hercules’s eyes narrow. He’s a total cinnamon roll, but right now he looks like he might tear Peter apart with his bare hands. “Let her go.”

Because of my weakness, Peter lives and now he’s knocking on my door, threatening everything I’ve sold my soul to protect.

The woman is thick, and I fucking love it. She’s always been beautiful,

I’ve watched her find herself over the years. Find her style. Find her confidence. Find her Don’t Fuck With Me attitude. The fact she won’t give me the time of day only makes me respect her more. The woman she’s become doesn’t fuck around.

Beyond that, I like Tink’s attitude and her determination to be a little fucking brat.

I’m just a pawn in another person’s game.

Tink is especially beautiful—and dangerous—when she gets riled.

Oh, she is downright fucking wicked.

She’s also a prideful little asshole, so she’s going to hold out as long as possible before giving us what we both desire. I’m going to enjoy every second of it.

Hook isn’t even the perpetrator, but he stood by and witnessed, which is almost as bad. I don’t exactly blame him for it, but I can blame him for the fact that the past is clinging to my back more fiercely than it ever has.

I might be mouthy, but in my heart of hearts, I love submitting. I love the moment when I hand over control to someone who will give me exactly what I didn’t even realize I need.

“Tell me what you want, beautiful girl.”

Or maybe I resent the truth I can’t escape. My weakness goes soul deep. No matter how strong, how fierce, how mean I am, at my center, I’m still the scared teenager who fell for a monster’s false kindness.

Tink seeks me out in her sleep. It might amuse me that she’s a cuddler under different circumstances, but with the mountains currently left to scale, the taste of what we could have is almost painful.

I drag my hands through my hair and strive for calm. It’s a lost cause. It’s always a lost cause where this woman is concerned. “How about this for some truth? I love you, you infuriating, amazing woman.” She freezes. “That’s not funny.” “Who’s laughing?” “You can’t just …” She’s blinking too rapidly. “You just said… What the fuck, Jameson?”

I know better by now. Wanting something of my own—it’s what got me into this mess to begin with. Promises of safety, of family, of a home.

It’s like standing in a snowstorm and seeing the perfect life laid out before me, except I’m separated from it by a thick pane of glass. I can press myself to it in an attempt to get closer, but it doesn’t have the power to chase away the cold eating at my bones.

In a different world, I’d be strong enough to hold myself together. But I don’t live in a different world; I live in this one. And in this one, I need all the help I can get.

I might not always say the right thing, but I sure as shit know how to comfort with my body, even when fucking isn’t on the table. Sex isn’t what she needs right now. She needs someone to lean on, just a little bit, until she gets her feet under her again.

Ugggghhhhh !! Hook !!! He is so good to Tink, even when she's a pain in the ass ..

She gives a sad little smile. “Haven’t you figured it out yet, Jameson? There is no fresh start for me. Wherever I go, whoever I interact with, I’m still me. I’m still hauling around all the scars from my past.”

The possibility of a future? A family? If I reach for it, grasp it with too much enthusiasm, will the universe respond favorably? Or will it kick me in the teeth for having the audacity to believe I deserve a happily ever after?

“All the stories end with the villain vanquished and the happy couple riding off into the sunset. That’s what happily ever after is. They never have to work on their relationship, never have to get their hands dirty when facing the challenges living a full life creates. They’re caught in stasis, without conflict, without problems, without life. That’s no way to live.”

I don’t know if I believe in fate any more than I believe in happily ever after, but I want this future Hook paints for us. I want it desperately enough to fight for it.

Just like he’s taken everything I’ve ever valued. My pride. My strength. My self-confidence. My freedom. I fought and clawed and reclaimed those things for myself, day after day, year after year.

“No one touches me without permission anymore, asshole.”

It takes twenty minutes and promises they’ll meet for coffee tomorrow for the three of them to finally allow themselves to be ushered to the front door. When Tink turns around, she’s got a soft smile on her face. “I have friends.” “Yes, you do. Very scary friends.”

Lol !! that feeling of knowing that people care about her enough to kick some ass for her .. love it ..

I blink. “This concussion is worse than I thought, because I could swear that you just said you want a fall wedding.” “That’s because I did.” She hands me a towel and wraps a second one around herself. “We’re married in every way that matters, but I want a real wedding. One where we invite your family and our friends. I want to design my own dress. I want the whole ridiculous spectacle of it.” She crosses to me and cups my face in her hands. “I want the world to know that I choose you and that this is real.”

Baaaahhhhhhh !!!!!!!! Omg 😍😍 ..

“Tink Petrov, would you do me the honor of marrying me? Again.” I clear my throat. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known, and I love the shit out of you. Marry me, and we’ll spend the rest of our lives bickering and fucking and raising a family of little hellions while we run this territory the way it should be run.” The shadows flee her expression, and she beams down at me. “Yes, Jameson Hook, I very much would like to do all of that with you and more.” She tugs me to my feet. “I love you. I want to live not-happily-ever-after with you. Yes, of course I’ll marry you. Again.”

Ooohhh mmyy gooodddddd !!! I can't .. i cant believe im tearing right now .. 😍😢 i think this is my favorite out of the series so far !!!!!!!!