Under My Nose

Edward Cullen sets a deadline of six months to find his true love, before he turns thirty. Leaving his successful restaurant to drive a mule-drawn carriage in the French Quarter of New Orleans, he searches for the meaning of true love, because he has yet to understand it. Will he know when he finds her or will she be right under his nose? Can bubbly, buxom Bella tantalize his taste buds with beignets and an abundant

booty?

A/N: Thank you to the readers who review every chapter. There are a handful of you. I appreciate the love, and I find your input very helpful. When we get into further chapters, I will send you another surprise. Again, thank you for your constant support.

And thank you to the readers who follow and favorite that I am unable to send a thank you PM.

And there are recipes at the end. I know… spoiling you.

A correction on the Irish Gingersnaps recipe: Typo error.

1 cup white flour is really 1 cup white sugar… sorry guys and thank you Dodge McClure for noticing the error.

This chapter is not Beta'd. I'm on my own. Please, forgive my comma errors. I didn't send the correct chapter to Fran.

AND… Hope all of you had a very Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Chanukah!

Chapter Twenty-three:

EPOV: January 6

And in my head I repeat, "Whatever we do is right. Whatever we do is right."

The pressure is on.

I gently take Bella's hands off my thighs and kiss them, staring into her eyes. "Are you sure?"

She nods and barely whispers, "Yes."

I jump out of bed. "Wait right here!"

I run through my linen closet and find a box of mood candles with every color of the rainbow in glass containers. Yeah right, like I need help to be in the fucking mood. But I strategically place candles throughout the room, light them and turn the standard lights off.

Bella's eyes follow me throughout the room with a small smile on her face.

The room has this glow of color things going on. They're not big candles, so they give off a small burst of light, making the atmosphere warm and inviting. Bella's blonde hair outlines in an angelic halo that extends down to her shoulders and arms and she takes my breath away.

"This is cozy," she barely whispers as she looks around the room.

I crawl back into the bed beside her. She is nervous. Her hands tremble, as I hold them in mine and I kiss them softly. "What ever we do is right."

"What did you say?" Bella asks.

"I didn't realize I said anything out loud," I mumble, leaning her back onto the pillows. I'm on my side and reach around, holding myself up with my elbows over her. I kiss her lips in gently pecks and open my eyes to find her staring up at me. "What?"

"Um, you look so beautiful in this light." She shrugs.

I comb my fingertips through some stray hairs over her eyes."You look like an angel."

She rolls those eyes. "We're that nervous we're getting cheesy."

"Are you going to close your eyes?" I ask; half annoyed and half in wonderment.

She bats them with an attitude. "Did you want me to?"

"Well yeah, that's what people do when they're about to have fucking sex. I mean, we are going to have sex … right?" I question.

Her face turns a brilliant red and she giggles. "This is the most awkward conversation we have ever had."

I shakily grumble, "I don't know what to do, Bella." I catch myself. "Well, I know what to do, but this is different with you," I blurt out and run my hand over my sweaty forehead.

The pillows are haphazardly surround us, the blanket is half on, half off and my feet are cold. Bella curves her body around mine and reaches up to cup my face with both of her hands. "Edward, it's okay. We'll get the hang of this as we go along." She kisses along my jaw and neck, and bites my shoulder. "Do you think we could start doing something?"

We laugh, I fall on her and hold her close. She tightens her grip and I run my hands over her back and sides, still laughing and burying my face in her neck.

I lift my head and look at her. The laughing fades and I crash my lips onto hers and kiss her. The passion surges through me and I want to engulf her, possess her and sink deep within her.

This is different, because it's my prelude to having her. I go through the basic motions; touching her hair, kissing down her neck and inhaling her scent.

And I freeze.

I'm afraid.

What a time to become a fucking pussy. And I realize this isn't just sex … I have genuine, fucking feelings for this woman and I want to show her. But what if it isn't any good? What if I don't fucking please her?

She whispers, "Stop overthinking this, Edward!"

"Yeah, man up, pussyboy, time to claim your fucking woman." I chant in my head.

Either I am in a daze or Bella is like lightning, we are naked from the waist down. Well, Bella is, but I'm plain naked. The warmth of her skin under me, excites every fucking, nerve fiber in my body. I reach for her tank top with one hand and remove it over her head. Okay, it's skin all over; touching everywhere. I back away and take in her breasts.

I stare up at her face as she watches me. They are full and round, her skin is pale and smooth, soft and silky.

As I kiss her again, I move my leg between hers.

When I look at her, her eyes are closed, her face inhaling my ministrations. I really like the fullness of her breasts. They fill my hands as I mold my fingers around her plump flesh. I squeeze her softness and rub circles, pushing my hand into her. She exhales a small breath and that just pushes me on.

I lower my head and hesitate a minute. Will she want me to put my mouth…

Bella interrupts my thoughts, "Edward, yes, do it!"

I clear my throat, nuzzle my face to her breast and latch on. Her soft gasp and cat like meuw urges me to deeply suck her in. Her hands grip my hair, drawing me closer to her. I slow my movement savoring her sweetness.

She whispers my name and the electricity flows throughout my body.

The heat of the candles, the gas heater and our own fire coats our skin with beads of perspiration, enhancing our arousal scent. Bella smells of feminine lilacs and my musk emits an earthy, masculine dominance. Her face glows in the candlelight and extends down her shoulders to her fingertips.

Then, it hits me that I don't have any condoms and I hesitantly tell her. She quickly says, 'on the pill and I'm clean'. Like the checkered flags flare and the green light flashes, I center myself at the starting gate and slowly begin my race inch by inch.

Bella winces and I freeze. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, it has been a while, but I'm fine," she says.

But I can't move. I lay over her, rest my forehead on hers and take a large breath to exhale very slowly. Her hands slickly move from my shoulders to my wrists and back to my upper arms.

She whispers breathlessly into my ear, giving me a chill, "Ah, Edward, why are you so still?"

As she pats my head, I turn my face and Bella's elbow cracks me in the eye above the bridge of my nose. "Ow."

"I'm sorry, so sorry. Is your eye okay?" she apologizes and sooths my face, but pokes me in the eye.

"Hey!" I shout and grab for my eye.

Again, she apologizes, "I'm so sorry, Edward. I didn't mean to." She pats my hand.

"I'm okay. I'm okay." I smile at her.

She wipes my sweaty brow with her fingers.

"Baby, this is all so overwhelming. My heart wants to burst right out of my fucking chest." I feel the pounding rhythm expand to my throat. "Being this close to you is surreal. I can't feel where I end and you start. I don't want to hurt you."

Bella smiles, "Oh Edward, I'm not breakable. I'm built for comfort." She squeezes my insides and orders, "For Godsake, you have to move." And she sways her hips.

I reach behind her head and bring her face close to mine, keeping my body up with my other hand, and slowly move in a snail like pace. I clear my throat and intensely ask, "Is this okay for you?"

She hums, "Hmmm, I'm savoring every pulse, Edward. You're being so gentle."

I smooth my face over her cheeks and rub noses. "I've never taken the time to feel."

She exhales a slight huff. "Aunt Sally says that 'to take something slow is to feel every movement'." She laps her lips. "She's right. I feel every part of you."

I intently stare into her eyes. "Bella, it's never been like this." I watch her face as I move within and out of her. Her beautiful brown eyes are lit with excitement, her lips part slightly and she inhales slowly.

She smoothes my hair with a worried face. "You're all right?" I nod, but she tries to stop my movements and I quickly bury deep within her with force and she oomphs.

"Sorry about that."

She gives me a wicked smile. "I'm not."

I smirk, grab her leg and hike it over my hip to get a better angle. She breathes heavily and grits her teeth. "Um, that's a lot better."

Our pace speeds up and we find a rhythm of the burn, building, soaring, tightening the stomach muscles, but I slow it down again, for the lingering savor.

Bella nudges me on the shoulder. "Why did you slow down? Her voice is raspy, raw and every bit her smart ass attitude.

I seriously glare at her. "I don't want this to end," I shout, sigh and quietly plead, "I don't want this to end."

She looks at me with understanding and nods her head. "It's only the beginning, Edward."

Tears build up in the corners of my eyes and Bella wipes them away with her finger tips. "I never thought…" I continue my slow gyrations, deepening every thrust, Bella bites her cheek and I pull it gently.

I bury my face near her neck and hiss. She is quiet; not a groan or a moan. And with every ounce of my emotions, I give her my heart. "I love you … so much."

"I love you so much, too. Let go, Edward," she whispers to me. "It's okay."

Both of us quietly, blissfully shatter into many pieces; breathing heavily, barely hearing, touching numbly, seeing blindly and whispering 'I love yous'. All the senses vibrate around us.

With the candles out and in the darkness, a lone stream of light peeks through the blinds. The sound of a heater kicks in, the box springs groan with a quick movement to our sides and we hold tightly to one another. I don't move and she tells me to stay put. I couldn't withdraw if I tried.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Once we finally … part the ways, clean up and regain our sleepwear; Bella heads into the kitchen and I run down to the restaurant to get a few desserts and wine. We want an eating frenzy.

I grab a tub of vanilla ice cream, nuts, chocolate chips, a bag of M&Ms, hot fudge and marshmallow sauce, and a bottle of Dom Pérignon, which I did search through my special stash for twenty, fucking minutes.. Hey, it's a special occasion and I wasn't giving up.

When I enter the apartment, I smell potatoes. Despite the fact that I am a chef, I am a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Simple food is sexy.

I find Bella at the island, sprinkling shredded cheese over a pan. "What do you have there?" I put the ice cream into the freezer and lay the sweets and Dom on the countertop.

"I made you seven layer dip." She points to the pan. "And in the oven I have potato nests."

I wrap my arms around her waist and peek over her head. "You'll have to educate me, Bella."

"Okay, my friend BB, she's my best friend in the biker group, likes junk food, lives on crap. So, I tried to get her to eat better. Instead of greasy nachos …"

"Hey, I like greasy nachos," I defend.

Bella butt pokes me.

I kid her. "Yeah have me once and start defiling my fucking goods."

"Oh, I want those goods in perfect working order, Edward. A little bump won't kill them." She giggles.

I laugh and nuzzle her ear, "But waking them up will interrupt our feed."

She removes her booty from my jewels. "Food … first!"

I kiss the top of her head.

"Anyway, I layer refried beans, a taco, sour cream, mayo filling, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, green onions and cheddar cheese."

"That's eight," I correct her.

"Black olives and green onions are mixed together," she informs me.

I nod my head. "Oh."

"I think you'll like it." She moves away and takes the 'nests' out of the oven onto the countertop. "When these cool a little, I'll top with sour cream."

My stomach growls. "Can we eat?"

She stares me in the eyes, rips open a bag of nacho chips across her ample chest and chips fly all over the island. Bella grabs a chip, dips it into her seven-layer concoction and pops it into my mouth… very slowly.

"What do you think?" she anxiously asks.

I chew with all the flavors exploding in my mouth nodding my head. "I think I want more."

Bella sticks her finger in the dip, pops it into her mouth and licks her finger … very slowly.

I watch with her my fucking mouth wide open. "Oh, I want more."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I push my chair away from the table and pat my stomach. "Woman, that was good eatin'!"

"We still doing ice cream sandwiches and champagne?" she asks all innocent and coy, batting her eyes with a devilish grin.

I get up and get the ice cream while Bella gets the cookies. Standing side by side at the island, we create our masterpiece of dessert. Bella holds two cookies, I plop a scoop of ice cream in the middle, she smashes the other cookie over the ice cream, sprinkles crushed nuts all over the sides and drizzles both the marshmallow and hot fudge sauce. It's not rocket science, but it's delicious and very messy.

She lifts the sandwich to my mouth and I take a bite. I have to smile, because she has to stand on the tip of her toes to reach my mouth. The second bite she offers she smears all over my lips and she tilts her head up to me, licking the ice cream off my face. She begins to giggle as I pull her up to me onto the island and she wraps her legs around my waist. She kisses me around my mouth.

I take the cookie sandwich from her and feed her, smearing ice cream all over her lips and crashing my mouth to hers. Ice cream tastes better on Bella. We both start to laugh and she nibbles my tongue. I toss the sandwich onto the counter and wrap my arms around her, leaning her back and over her. "We should take this into the bedroom."

She looks at me with surprise. "But won't all of this be messy?"

"I meant just us."

"I could make you a sundae," she pleads.

"I think I'm not hungry for ice cream any longer," I protest.

"Edward, I was thinking of making a sundae for me …"

And my light bulb goes on, "Oh, oooooooo…"

She smiles wickedly, licks the hot fudge off her arm, and around my neck.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The first time was sexy, loving and very satisfying. Nothing like an after sex feast to foreplay round two?

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A/N: Thank you to my Beta, Sunflower Fran. I appreciate her time, her proper grammar and quick pen. Another great find by PAD!

To Robseve and Postapocalypticdepository (PAD), my pre-readers that give their unselfish time and creative input. Both of these ladies are inspirations and true friends.

Now, let me rec Postapocalypticdepository stories, since she so graciously rec'd mine.

Never Judge by the Cover: 9056924

Boys Will Be: 8868006

Rude Awakenings: 8876785

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Year: 8862243 (complete)

And a shout out rec to: bURN by compass54

And to: Midnight-Confessions by ohgeefantasy

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

And thank you to all the readers, whether you review or not. I enjoy every comment and suggestion. Yes, NOLA (New Orleans, LA) is an exciting place to live. And to combine the old world with the new is a challenge, but the humor is quite a serious business. My objective is for all of you to smile, after each chapter.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Recipes:

Seven-Layer Dip

Refried Beans (large can)

I cup Mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

2 large avocados

2 teaspoons lemon juice

salt to taste

3 cups shredded lettuce

3 chopped tomatoes

1 can medium black olives, chopped

½ cup green onion, chopped

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1st layer:

Line a rectangular, glass dish with a large can of refried beans.

2nd layer:

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream and taco seasoning. Spead over refried beans.

3rd layer:

Mash avocados until creamy, add lemon juice, salt and layer over mato layer.

4th layer:

Layer shredded lettuce

5th layer:

Layer chopped tomato and black olives

6th layer:

Layer ½ cup chopped green onion

7th layer:

Layer Cheddar cheese, shredded

Dip in with tortilla chips.

Potato Nests

2 large yellow potatoes, finely grated

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

1 teaspoon chopped onion

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon paprika

1 egg

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Sour cream

½ package bacon, chopped

chopped chives

Combine potatoes, garlic, onion, salt, paprika and egg. Mold 2 tablespoons of mixture into a cupcake pan. Fill the inside with cheddar cheese, bacon and chives. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with a dollop of sour cream.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches

1 cup softened butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons hot water

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.

Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

Cool cookies. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on one cookie and smash with another on top of the ice cream to make a sandwich. Roll sandwich in chopped nuts, sprinkles, M&Ms, trail mix, coconut, or chocolate shavings.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Next up: BPOV