Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, any of its characters, or the song "Collide".

"Collide" —Howie Day

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I moaned, throwing my head back and digging my nails into his sweaty shoulders. The feelings that arose in me every time he touched me seemed to get stronger with each undulation of our hips. His hands on my waist, guiding my movements as he leaned against the headboard for leverage, sent sparks shooting straight to my throbbing center. This wouldn't last long. In some back corner of my mind I wondered how I still had the energy to do this. It was past midnight, and we'd stumbled into my bedroom at a quarter past two—just enough time for us to digest our lunch. Yet here I was, speeding toward my tenth orgasm in that many hours. This man was a god. And it just got better every time.

"Edward!" I gasped out as he took my swollen, overly-sensitive nipple into his mouth. He groaned against me, the vibrations sending me into oblivion for the last time that night.

Edward let out a sound close to a growl as I tightened around him, rasping out my name as I pulled him after me into that bliss only we could create. He slid down the headboard—and out of me, I noted in discontent—and pulled me onto his chest. He rubbed my back as I lay limply against him, trying to catch my breath. When both of us had calmed a bit, he leaned down and kissed my forehead gently. "Happy belated new year, Bella," he whispered against my skin.

I laughed weakly. "Is that our excuse this time?"

"What else do we have? The fact that we can't seem to keep our hands off each other whenever we meet up comes off as a little bit pathetic, don't you think?"

"I suppose so," I sighed, snuggling closer to his deliciously toned yet still subtle pecs. "But it's your fault for being so irresistible."

He barked out a laugh, making me shake along with him. "This coming from the most enticing vixen I've ever met? It's a miracle you don't have men constantly on their knees begging for you." I just slapped his chest as I felt the blush stain my cheeks. I opened my mouth to retort, but a huge yawn slipped out instead. Edward chuckled again. He pecked me on the forehead once more. "Sleep, my Bella," he cooed. "You'll need your rest for later this morning when I ravish you in the shower."

"Pervert," I muttered, my eyes drifting shut automatically.

"Only for you," he whispered. I thought I heard him murmur something else, but I was already too far asleep to question him any further.

!#$%^&*

I cracked my eyes open later in the morning and looked blearily at my alarm clock to discover it was after ten thirty. Thank goodness it was a weekend. I groaned and rolled back over to see Edward still fast asleep next to me, looking adorable with his arms wrapped around his pillow and his mouth hanging open just a little. I sighed longingly as I watched him snoozing.

Edward Cullen. My best friend and neighbor since my junior year at the dreary Forks High School. And, unbeknownst to him, the one and only love of my life. I thought back to the first day I'd met him. I was new at school and his twin sister Alice had been my first friend. He'd soon become my second. We hadn't hooked up until almost a year later. Alice, knowing of my undying devotion towards him, invited me over under the guise of a sleepover before running off with her boyfriend and soul mate Jasper Hale and leaving me all alone with her Greek god of a brother. The two of us had talked over dinner for a while about the stresses of college applications and senior year. Then, so quickly I couldn't really be sure how it happened, I was spread out across the kitchen table as Edward fucked the living daylights out of me. Since then I'd never been able to eat spaghetti without getting turned on.

We continued to meet up secretly the rest of the year even though we both knew it could jeopardize our friendship if it got too far. We promised each other that if either of us started feeling something the other didn't, we would end it right away. Because even though we knew it had the potential for disaster, we also knew it was the best sex we had ever or would ever have. And that, along with our precious friendship, is why I had kept quiet about my feelings for him ever since. I'd much rather hide and keep him as my best friend than tell the truth and put an end to our relationship and the amazing sex. Have I mentioned what a sex god that man is?

No one found out about us in the following years. He'd gone off to get a PhD in Biology in Chicago while I moved down to the just-as-grey but way-more-exciting-than-Forks Seattle to get my degree in English. While we continued to have our flings on the rare occasions when we saw each other and were both single, we still had our fair share of relationships in college and later. My latest relationship with Mike the Bore had ended when I'd moaned out Edward's name in bed. Oops. I'd felt bad about it, but what else is a girl to do when a guy's so dull she almost falls asleep than fantasize about another guy? It was supposed to be a morale booster for poor old Mike. That had been two years ago, and since then I'd been going through a bit of a dry spell whenever Edward wasn't around. As soon as Edward had shown up for the holidays that year that familiar loss of sense had occurred and I'd practically thrown myself at him. I was guessing he didn't mind, seeing as we didn't resurface until Christmas morning when we'd had to face our families and act civil for most of the day. It didn't help that he was staying with me. After Christmas he'd lied and said he was going home to get a head start on the semester before dragging me back to my apartment for the next week.

But now it was past New Years, and time for Edward to return to Chicago for his last semester before gaining his PhD. Who knew where he'd go off to then? Probably to some prestigious east-coast university to get a teaching job. And just like that the chances of me seeing him on a regular basis ever again would be out the window.

I sighed, snuggling into his chest and enjoying the way his arm wrapped around me even in sleep. What would I do without him? I definitely wouldn't get a boyfriend, seeing as my last attempt had been a train wreck. Besides, how could I even focus on any one else when I was utterly committed to him? I cringed away from the though of having anyone else's hands on me ever again and literally ached when I thought of him in another woman's bed. Or worse—another woman in his bed. I literally shuddered at the thought, but froze when I felt him stirring beneath me.

I looked up at his face just in time to see his eyes opening. I stifled a laugh when he let out a loud yawn and rubbed his eye with the back of his hand.

"Hey, sleepy head," I teased quietly.

He chuckled, brining his hand to my hair and playing with it absentmindedly. "Good morning, beautiful." Even though I knew he didn't mean them the way I wanted him to, his words, coupled with the sleepy roughness of his voice, had me sinking further against him. My previous worry must still have been etched on my too-expressive face, though, because all he had to do was take one look at me before his brow crumpled in worry. "What's wrong?" he asked tenderly, pulling me further on top of him so he could cup my face in his hands. Or maybe he was just trying to trap me so I couldn't turn away.

I escaped anyway by averting my eyes to the headboard above him. "Nothing," I insisted.

"Bella," Edward's voice was so stern that I looked at him automatically. I was sucked into his deep emerald eyes instantly. His gaze had my pulse racing and wetness pooling between my legs before I could get control of myself. I was glad my legs we still pressed tightly together to the side of him so he didn't feel my lack of self-control. "Please, tell me what's wrong. You don't look right. You look…I don't know…almost sad or something. Please, you know you can tell me anything," he pleaded, staring worriedly into my eyes.

I was momentarily stunned by how well this man could read me. I soon realized how silly I was being, though. He was my best friend after all. He always had been able to read me like a book. I shook my head to clear it before replying, "No, it's nothing big. I was just…" how could I say this without sounding like a total stalker? "thinking about how much I'll miss you, I guess."

His eyes softened, and he smiled sadly at me, threading his fingers through my hair. "We have most of the day together, and we'll see each other again soon," he reassured me. His eyes turned playful. "Probably sooner than you think," I couldn't fathom what that mischievous look in his eyes meant, but I quickly decided I probably didn't want to know. I watched as his expression turned even more impish. "Though I do regret not being able to tie you to the bed this time."

I snorted, which is probably what he was aiming for, and slapped his chest lightly again. "That's your fault for forgetting the handcuffs," I mocked playfully, even though on the inside I regretted it too. Just thinking about it had another rush of moisture leaking onto my thighs.

"Hmm, I won't make that mistake again," his eyes twinkled roguishly before abruptly turning serious. "You know I'll miss you too, right? And not just the sex." Before I could fully comprehend what was happening he was tilting my head so he could lean up and kiss me. The kiss was so slow and sweet I thought I would melt into a useless puddle of goo right on top of him. I closed my eyes, savoring his delectable taste, and by the time he pulled away we were both breathless. In that moment it was so easy to pretend that he loved me too. That he really would miss me with the same ferocity that I would miss him with. I didn't want to think about how I would survive without him, so instead I let him pull me all the way on top of him, completely forgetting about the mess between my legs.

It certainly didn't escape his notice, though. As soon as he felt my slick heat pressed against his stomach his eyes darkened and his smile turned downright sinful. He was out of the bed and carrying me through the door before I had completely worked out what was happening.

"H-hey! What are you doing? Put me down!"

He laughed, but it wasn't his light, playful laugh from earlier. This laugh was dark and absolutely dripped with seductive promises. He shifted me in his arms so he could trail his lips up my jaw to my ear, where he proceeded to leave small nips and kisses. I trembled. "I believe I promised some debauchery in the shower," he breathed against my wet skin, making me shiver. "And I always keep my promises, Isabella." The sound of his voice wrapping around my full name was enough to have me panting as he carried me towards the bathroom and the shower I'd never look at the same way again.

!#$%^&*

And then he was gone. And as was the norm when Edward was away, I was going crazy. The day after he left I'd almost gone to work with mismatched shoes. Every time we were separated it felt like he took part of my heart with him. He was the only thing missing from my life. I'd gotten a good education and had supportive parents, good friends, and a job I loved. If it weren't for him I'd be perfectly happy. But as it was, that god of a man had somehow ended up as my best friend and the secret focus of my adoration. So now I was stuck trudging unenthusiastically through my week and wishing he would be waiting for me at home as usual.

I guess it sort of helped that most of the people in my office were still on vacation, especially Lauren the annoying secretary. It made it so much easier to sulk when there weren't people in my face constantly. I was even hoping I'd get to leave early. How did anyone expect me to focus on editing other people's books when I was so depressed? I just wanted to get home so I could put on sweat pants, eat ice cream straight from the tub, and watch Titanic. Right now, I didn't care that I was the youngest junior editor to go through my company in a decade. I just wanted to be alone.

I plodded home unenthusiastically at the end of the day, grateful that I hadn't had to interact with many people. Just a couple of falsely friendly interactions with my superiors. I trudged up the stairs to my apartment with my head bowed against the cold winter air, wishing for a warm pair of arms to bury myself in. I sighed as I turned the last corner leading to my apartment, digging for my keys and not paying attention to where I was going. I guess it really shouldn't have surprised me when I knocked headfirst into someone, but it did anyway.

"Oh!" I gasped as the force of running into the poor passerby made me stumble back. Of course, I couldn't resist the opportunity to trip over my own feet and was quickly heading to the cold, hard concrete below me. I closed my eyes and braced myself for impact, but it never came. Before I could hit the landing, a strong pair of arms wrapped around me and lifted me back into a standing position. But that was impossible. Because those arms were supposed to be half way across the country. I snapped my eyes open and was immediately pulled into Edward's, which were sparkling with amusement.

"I can't leave you alone for a second, can I?" he chuckled.

His amusement grew as he watched me struggle for words. "I-you-but—" I shook my head to get my thoughts in order, finally willing myself to wheeze out a coherent sentence. "Edward! What're you doing here?"

"I'm here to see you, of course," his smirk became more defined and I knew he was enjoying my confusion immensely. He'd pay for that later. He stooped down and picked up a bouquet of lilies and a pair of padded handcuffs I recognized from last summer. I forced the memories out of my mind when I realized he was holding out the bouquet talking again. "I brought these for you."

I blinked in surprise. "Why calla lilies?"

"Because roses aren't special enough for you," I could feel a hot blush spread over my face, which made him smile even more. "I wanted to butter you up so you'd let me use these," he teased, jingling the cuffs in my face.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him into my apartment after me. I wouldn't be distracted. I wanted answers and I was going to get them.

I turned on him and put my hands on my hips to show him I was serious. "You know that's not what I meant," I insisted.

He was quiet for a long moment, just looking at me. "I'm moving here," he said suddenly.

"You-you're what?"

"I'm moving back to Washington. For my last semester, so I can look for a job here in the mean time."

"What? Why? After all that you're just moving back here? And why didn't you tell me?" How could he be springing this on me now? I'd just spent the last week and a half with him and he hadn't said a thing! What was the point of torturing me for the past seven years if he was just going to move back when I'd finally started to resolve myself to the fact that I'd have to live without him? Was he trying to drive me crazy?

"I wanted to surprise you," he looked startled at my outburst. "I didn't think it would be such a big deal."

"Well it is!"

"Why?" Poor guy. I should really give him a break. But I'd been wallowing in misery for the past four days all by myself because of him. This wasn't the time for mercy.

"Because I love you, you idiot! You should've told me! I've been suffering for nothing here!" It was about that time that I realized exactly what I had said. I gasped and clapped my hands over my mouth, wishing I could turn back time and stop my stupid mouth from running away from me. Edward just gaped at me. "Oh geez. Oh crap. I'm sorry I shouldn't have—" Suddenly his lips were on mine, and I didn't care that I'd just made a fool of myself. All that mattered was that he was there and he was kissing me. I whimpered, wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled myself as close to him as possible. I heard the flowers and cuffs fall to the floor and felt his hands on me, one twisting into my hair and the other wrapping around my waist.

When he finally pulled away to trail kisses up my jaw we were both panting heavily. His lips traveled up to my ear, where he kissed me so sweetly it had me shivering.

"Bella, my Bella," he whispered, pecking the shell of my ear again. "I love you too."

I looked up at him timidly. "Really?"

"Of course, you silly girl," he teased, ruffling my hair. "I've been in love with you since high school." He looked thoughtfully at me for a minute before speaking carefully, seeming to think through each word before he said it. "I hope this isn't too forward of me…but I've been struggling to find an apartment in the city, and I don't want to encroach on my parents hospitality any longer than necessary…so I was wondering if maybe…"

"If what?"

"If maybe I could stay here for a while? Just until I find my own place?"

I thought my heart would burst from the complete and utter ecstasy running through me at that moment. Just to taunt him I plastered a fake pout across my face. "Why would you search for somewhere else? Do you want to get away from me that badly?"

A dopey grin that I'm sure mirrored my own appeared on Edward's face. "You found me out," he joked before leaning down to press his lips to mine once more. When he tried to pull away I twisted my fingers in his hair and crushed myself as close to him as possible. The next thing I knew we were stumbling toward my room in a tangle of half-removed clothes. The subsequent hours were spent in a haze of fervor, ecstasy, and whispered 'I love you's. I'd never felt more complete in my entire life.

Hours later as we were lying tangled together I lifted my head weakly off his sweaty chest. "This is really happening, isn't it? It's not just some really great dream that I'll wake up from alone?"

Edward smoothed my messy hair from my face. "I'll always be here, love." A playful smile crept onto his face then. "Besides, haven't you realized by now that I can't stay away from you? The universe just wants us to be together."

Yet another goofy grin materialized on my face. "I guess we were just meant to collide."

!#$%^&*

AN: So I'm not really sure I like this first lemon attempt…I thought the beginning was okay, but I had trouble finishing it. Reviews are greatly appreciated *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*