Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Duh.

Then

I couldn't sleep.

For whatever reason, I was wired, buzzing with anticipation. The feeling wasn't completely unwelcome, but I knew I'd be paying for this restlessness in a few hours when I'd have to cab it back to Kate's place and deal with wedding festivities for the remainder of the day.

Careful not to wake Edward, I crawled over him and out of his bed. I squinted in the dark and searched the floor for my dress, but found his discarded button down first. So, I pulled it on and left it unbuttoned, hoping he wouldn't mind. Scratch that. Knowing he wouldn't mind.

I tiptoed across his studio to the bathroom. I drank two glasses of water. I raided his fridge. Or I would have, but there was nothing edible.

I was still peering inside his fridge, wondering how a person manages to live without food, when his rough voice startled me.

"Hey," he grumbled, and I turned in his direction to see the shadow of his body sit up. "Are you robbing me right now?"

"Um." I slowly shut the refrigerator door and walked back towards the bed. "You have absolutely nothing edible in your fridge. What would I steal?"

"Good point." His laugh was thick with sleep, and I resisted the urge to straddle him.

That resistance lasted a mere five seconds.

"You're wearing my shirt," he practically groaned as I climbed on him, my knees pushing into the mattress.

I shrugged. "I couldn't find my dress."

"It looks terrible on you. Take it off." He yawned through his smile, causing me to yawn in return.

His left hand rubbed my back and his right hand opened the shirt, just enough for him to peek inside; just enough for me to feel his dick harden beneath me.

"Yeah. You should definitely take this off," he ordered, slipping it off my shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.

It was slower this time. Our touches weren't as frenzied and our kisses weren't as rushed.

When he brushed his nose against my collarbone and kissed his way down my chest, I shivered. When I pushed him back against the mattress and circled my hips against his, he grinned.

When he pushed into me, he breathed my name, and when I came first, I gasped his.

He flipped me over and I moaned, partly because I wasn't expecting it to feel this way, but also because he made me come too fast and I needed it again. I told him this, and he groaned, or maybe laughed, rubbing my clit as he pushed into me from behind.

We were hushed moans and quiet curses and yes and God, yes, and fuck me.

He came, and I felt his lips on my back, and when I came again, I felt everything.

When we were sated and breathless, he rolled over with a groan, keeping a hand on my back.

"You're the best one night stand I've ever had," I mumbled against my arm. I still hadn't moved. I didn't want or need to.

"Yeah? I thought you didn't do this kind of thing..." he trailed off, words quickly turning into a yawn. "I like you, too."

I was on the verge of sleep when I felt him shift next to me. With my eyes closed, I could feel his gaze on me, and smiled.

"Talk to me," he suggested, a whispered plea.

"Okay. About what?"

"I don't know. Anything."

I thought for a minute. What I really wanted to ask was if he did this often—slept with women he just met. But then I'd have to lay here in his bed, and pretend to not be jealous if he said yes. And if he said no, I probably wouldn't believe him, anyway.

"Why did you move to New York?" I asked instead; a safe topic.

"For school."

"That's not nearly as interesting as I thought," I teased, opening my eyes and searching for his in the dark. "You didn't come here to pursue your dreams of being on Broadway?"

"Well, yeah. That's what brought me here," he responded, somehow able to not crack a smile. "But it didn't work out, so I decided to focus on architecture. I just started my second year of grad school."

"Are you almost done?"

"It's a three year program. So, not really."

"Well, I don't know anyone who's studying architecture. Is it difficult?"

"It's not easy, but I want it," he admitted, voice full of honesty.

We stared at one another, and I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a sudden shift between us. I didn't know what it was exactly, and I knew I wouldn't be able to comprehend it, even if I tried.

"Columbia, right?" I swallowed, clearing my head of whatever moment just occurred. "I overheard you talking to Garrett earlier at dinner."

His scoff was playful as he asked, "You were eavesdropping? What else did you hear, huh?" I laughed a little too hard. "Did you overhear me talking about you?"

My laughter faded away, turning into a wide smile. "I guess I must have missed that bit."

"That's good, otherwise this would be really awkward right now. I'd hate for you to know how attracted I am to you."

"Right." I snorted. "Because the sex we had fifteen minutes ago gave me no indication of said attraction."

He released a throaty, deep laugh; one that warmed me right down to my bones with how infectious it was. I couldn't help but smile. I couldn't help but move closer until I felt his breath on my face.

"You know..." he trailed off, brows knitting together. "You're different than I thought you'd be."

I didn't bother questioning him, because I didn't really want to know why. What I did want to know was, "Is that good or bad?"

"Good. Very good," he told me, and I believed him.

The effects of the alcohol had worn off, and I knew the boldness of my next question was solely because we were wrapped in the safety of darkness.

"Did you think about this? Us sleeping together?"

"Yes and no," he answered, and I smiled at the simpleness of his response.

"Should I question this, or shall I let you keep some mystery?"

He let his arm rest across my hip, quietly explaining that yes, he thought about it, but no, he didn't think it'd actually happen.

Without another word, I closed my eyes, matching my breathing to his and slowly succumbing to sleep.

Well. Thanks for reading.

Srup & Crystal make me write. They're cool.