DISCLAIMER: This story is a Twilight spin-off/crossover of the movie made for TV in 2000 titled Sex and Mrs. X. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, dialogues, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX: Honestly Charming

I walked up the front steps and searched for the doorbell. I spotted it to my right and I rang the number that had MASEN written next to it.

"Allô?"

"Edward? It's me, Bella."

"Oh, come on up. I am on the top floor, loft A. Just go right when you exit the lift."

The main door buzzed and I pushed it open. I took the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. When the elevator stopped, I exited and turned right, as Edward had directed.

There he was, waiting for me with the door open and looking absolutely sinful.

He was wearing a cable-knit black sweater, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, washed-out jeans and black Nike sneakers.

He looked… yummy.

"Sorry I'm late," I said, taking off my coat and handing it to him. "I was—"

He raised both of his hands, palms out. "I do not want to know," he teased, taking my coat.

I blushed and laughed. "Nothing like that! " I admonished him. "I was buying a replacement for a lamp I had accidentally broken in my room."

"Of course you would. That was very thoughtful of you."

If he only knew why I had to replace the lamp, he wouldn't have said that!

Stifling a giggle, I shrugged off his compliment. "It's the least I could do."

Edward smiled and then turned around to hang my jacket and purse on the coat hanger by the entrance.

I looked around and was surprised at what I saw.

I was expecting a typical bachelor's pad, but the place had a very homey feeling to it. The entire floor was an open space with a few white pillars scattered around the room. One wall was covered in floor-to-ceiling windows, giving an amazing view of the city and I could even see the tip of the Eiffel Tower.

"This is nice," I commented, while I took a look around the living room.

The decor was modern, but not stiff or clinical. It was warm and even though the walls were mostly white, except for the exposed wood ceilings, the splashes of color in the artwork and the rich fabrics of the furniture gave the room a nice touch.

"Thank you, a friend of mine helped me decorate the space."

I nodded and smiled. There were a couple of black and white photographs on the dining room wall. The photos were done with an artistic flair and were absolutely beautiful. There was a small TV room tucked in by the stairs, the couch there had a couple of colorful afghans throw carelessly over it.

"So, where is the proof you wanted to show me?" I asked, when I noticed he was just standing there watching me take in his home.

"Upstairs, suis-moi," he said, motioning for me to follow him.

We went up the stairs, passing through a small TV room. There were four doors on the second level, one of them was open and appeared to be a guest bedroom. I followed Edward to the end of the hallway where we then went up another set of stairs.

"The loft came with a terrace, and there was a shed out there that I turned into a small office and darkroom for me to work from."

No wonder I hadn't seen any of his equipment downstairs.

The terrace was lovely. There were many plants and even a couple of strawberry bushes. The view was gorgeous, and I could see more of the Eiffel Tower from here.

"Wow, what a great view you've got from here!"

Edward smiled, pulling a key out of his pocket and unlocking a door to the right. I hadn't noticed the small shed since it was covered by potted foliage.

"It was the view that sold it for me. It took me a long time to make the apartment the way I like it, but in the end, it was worth it."

He unlocked the door and waved me inside.

The space was small and cramped with equipment. There was a long table on one side with a bench. Two computers rested on top of the table. One wall had framed magazine covers, and the opposite wall had a few more of the same black and white photos from downstairs, but these had an erotic flair. I blushed when I saw them and averted my eyes quickly. Two worktables occupied the rest of the space and on one of them was a small light box.

"I take most of my photographs with a digital camera, but there are still a few I take with film," commented Edward, when he saw me inspecting some of the rolls that littered the worktable closest to me.

"Did you take the black and white photos that are downstairs?"

"Oui, and the ones up here too. I do magazine covers for money, but these," he said, smiling and placing a hand on his chest, "I do pour mon âme, for my soul."

"You are wonderful, Edward."

"I keep telling you that." He winked.

I giggled and shook my head at him.

Edward picked up a folder and handed it to me. "Voilà, Madame Esme."

I opened the folder and saw the photos from the soirée. They were very nice photos, but there was one that really caught my eye.

"Oh, you really captured her here, Edward. I think this should be the lead shot," I announced, showing Edward the photo he had taken of his aunt.

Madame stood, playing with her pearl necklace as she looked back over her shoulder. Her eyes twinkled with secrets and her smile was coy. She looked like a modern and sexy Mona Lisa.

Edward nodded. "Tu as raison. I thought the same thing."

"I wonder what she was thinking…."

Edward stood beside me and looked down at the photo. "I am not sure, I never am with Tatie, but when you figure it out, you will have your story."

I looked over a few more photos and talked about the wedding. Alice had agreed on letting the magazine publish a couple of photos of her wedding for the article, as long as it didn't show anybody's faces.

"I could take the photos after the ceremony, over the gazebo," commented Edward, as he handed me a cup of tea. "The light would be perfect at sundown."

We had gone back downstairs into the living room, and were discussing shots for the wedding. I was sitting on one end of the couch while Edward sat at the other end.

"That would be lovely," I said, taking a sip of the tea.

"You should let me shoot you."

I choked on the tea. It seemed that like his aunt, Edward also had the power to shock me out of nowhere.

"I don't think so… I take terrible pictures," I finally said, once I was sure the tea wouldn't come back out through my nose.

He hummed and shook his head. "No, no… I meant like the ones in my office."

I laughed, remembering the photos he'd had in there. "I don't think so!"

"You answered too quickly. You like my work, no?"

I sighed and looked into his beautiful golden eyes. "I don't look like that. I'm not a model."

"That is the point! You are a beautiful woman, Bella."

I blushed and looked down, my hair falling over my shoulder like a curtain.

Edward gently pushed my hair back and smiled at me.

"I will make you a deal. You let me shoot you, and I will cook you dinner."

I gasped. "Um, Edward, that sounds like a date."

Edward shrugged. "I would like to date you."

"I just went through a divorce."

"You are in Paris, that doesn't count."

"I have to be ten years younger than you."

"Twelve, but age is just a number."

"Do you have an answer for everything?"

"Most of the time, and if not, I will Google it."

I giggled at his cheekiness. "Do you really want me that way?"

"Oh, yes…" he affirmed, his eyes burning with desire. "Will you pose for me?"

"Yes, I will," I said, without thinking but then gasped, realizing what I'd just agreed to. "I can't believe I just said that!"

Edward chuckled and took my hand. "Thank you, Bella," he said, planting a soft kiss on my knuckles. "But you cannot take it back!"

I threw my head back in laughter, resigned to my fate.

He better be an excellent cook, I thought to myself.

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