Free The Invitation by Roxy Sloane

ONE
    JUSTINE
    It’s the last night of law school and I know
one thing for sure: I’m not leaving until I’ve seduced Ashton
Pierce.
    I sneak a look across the table at him.
There’s a whole group of us out to dinner to celebrate: future
lawyers like me, and a bunch of guys from his MBA program too, but
as usual, he’s the only one I notice.
    Damn, he’s sexy.
    It’s no secret that Ash is the hottest guy
on campus. He sets hearts fluttering and panties dropping with just
a look of those intense blue eyes -- and the rest of him is just as
devastating. Dark hair. Square-cut chiseled jaw. A lean, muscular
body that looks just as good in his wardrobe of crisp shirts and
dark denim as it does out of them.
    And did I mention he’s British too? I swear,
I could come just from listening to him talk, and I’m not the only
one. His reputation is legendary, he’s scored with almost every
girl on campus, and they all promise he’s the best lay they’ve ever
had. In fact, there’s only one person with a reputation that even
comes close.
    Me.
    It’s why we’re such good friends. He loves
how I give as good as I get. No bullshit, just real talk. The first
night we met at a local bar, we were both with other dates, but by
the end of the night, it was just the two of us in the corner
booth, trading war-stories and drinking each other under the table
until the bartender threw us out.
    We made a pact then and there that we’d just
be friends, no awkward fling to screw things up. It made sense at
the time. I was too focused on kicking ass in law school to deal
with a relationship, and he was relishing his freedom away from all
his responsibilities back home in England. Casual hook-ups are a
dime a dozen in law school, but a real friend? That was something
worth holding on to.
    And I have done, for two whole years. Now
Ash is pretty much the closest person in my life -- and I’m going
out of my mind with wanting him.
    “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
Scott, the guy sitting beside me gets to his feet. “I’ve got an
early interview in the morning.”
    “Come on!” I exclaim. “Live a little.”
    “It’s a jungle out there,” he shakes his
head. “Eager new associates are everything. That shiny new law
degree won’t mean a thing if we can’t find a job.”
    “Or pass the bar exam.” Another classmate
sighs, looking stressed.
    “C’mon,” I cheer, trying to rouse them. “The
real world can wait. Tonight, we celebrate making it through the
toughest, most sleep-deprived, hardcore three years of our
lives!”
    The others cheer and toast, and I feel a
surge of pride. I still can’t believe I’ve made it this far. I
busted my ass in high-school, worked nights and weekends to get
myself through college, and now I’m about to graduate from one of
the best law schools in the country.
    Not bad for a kid from Chino.
    Scott lingers, leaning down to whisper. “You
want to walk me back?” he asks.
    “I thought you had an early start,” I
tease.
    He grins. “Not too early. What do you
say?”
    His hand caresses my shoulder. I pause.
We’ve hooked up a couple of times this year, and it’s been fun, but
tonight, there’s only one guy I’m thinking about.
    The one I’m always thinking about, even when
I won’t admit it to myself.
    “I think I’m going to stay out, get a couple
more drinks,” I tell him. “Good luck.”
    Scott grins, “You too.”
    He saunters off -- and gets intercepted by a
girl from our Con Law class by the door. Yeah, Scott won’t be
crying into his pillow tonight. At least, not unless that girl is
way kinkier than she seems.
    I turn back to the table. It’s late, and
there’s only a small group of us left in the pizza place. Ash
catches my eye. He raises his eyebrow, nodding to Scott.
    I shrug, and give him a mysterious smile. I
take another sip of beer, looking casual, but inside, my heart is
racing.
    Shit, I’m really going to do this.
    I’ve been planning it in the back of