To Have and Hate (Love in London, #1)

by Donna Alam

Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. ~ Oscar Wilde

Oh, Beckett. Let me count the ways I loathe you. You’re the bane of my existence. A thorn in my side. And I’m pretty sure you’re the devil in disguise.

I recognise it isn’t the clothes that maketh the man but rather the substance stuffing it.

I love the diversity of British accents. In fact, I love all the British things.

There is no “i” in team.’ ‘No, but there’s a me in team,

‘But what if I’d wanted to kiss you? And not to give you the kiss of death?’

‘I don’t think we’re ever given anything. We work for it. Swindle sometimes. Beg, borrow, and steal, but in my experience, we’re rarely gifted good things.’

‘We’re told, as a society, that men like the chase. They like women who are hard to get. At least, that’s what we’re told. But that’s not true in my experience.’

The biggest and the baddest make the best mates.

‘What most people don’t understand is that offence exists not within the insult but within any reaction to it.’ Her expression clouds. ‘Most people find difficulty with the concept, not because it’s terribly far-reaching or beyond the understanding of most, but rather because they’re too emotional to see the beauty in this. To put it bluntly, your opinion is so irrelevant, I can’t be bothered to take offence.’

‘It’s not gay if you’re into bumming girls.’

You aren’t one of those people who life happens to. You make life happen for you.’

I can feel the shape and weight of your cock, and I agree. I will be destroyed. And I will die with a smile on my face.

‘But you should know, diamonds don’t truly shine. They reflect.’

‘Failure is not final. What’s important is having the courage to continue, no matter what else.’

‘The issue was that you were determined to take it personally. If you hadn’t been so ready to be offended, you would’ve heard what I actually said. Which is that I choose not to become emotionally invested in people’s opinions of me. Their words have no power; therefore, their opinions are insignificant. It’s a thought process.’

‘A diamond doesn’t lose its value due to a lack of admiration.’ My thumb rubs over the sparkling stones I’d slipped onto her slender finger just a little while ago. ‘Value your own worth, Olivia. For it is great.’

your freckles are a constellation.’ His words are almost pondering as his hand trails across my collarbone, his eyes following. ‘And I’m going to cover them in cum.’

‘There can be no love without concern.’

We may hide things from the people we love, but it seems entirely possible for us to also hide things from ourselves as I refuse to acknowledge her grandmother’s other words of advice. You can be right, or you can be happy. It’s up to you to choose.

you can’t have a relationship without fights, but you can make a relationship worth the fight.’

‘I know I’m a prick, but I’m your prick.’

‘You are my church and my chapel, my darling. And I’ll worship you for the rest of my life.’