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 in bringing those review numbers up.
And thank you to the readers who follow and favorite that I am unable to send a thank you PM.
As of now, we will have 44 chapters including an epi all outlined. Then again, this story takes on it's own life. We will see.
Chapter 39:
EPOV: February into March
Bella and I take a shortcut to the stables through Jackson Square in front of St. Louis Cathedral. We remain in character as we pass locals and tourists. Lafitte waves his hat in his arrogant swagger while Bella portrays her whimsical wench, laughing heartily, grabbing at my leg, and playing seductively to the crowd.
James, the little fucker, gives us a short bow with a twist of his hand. The other artists smile and wave. A brass band playing by the fence follows behind us starting up a second line. We jive to "Good Golly Miss Molly" while our followers wave flags and buy flowers from the vendors.
We circle Jackson Square twice with Bella singing in full force, and me longing to get her back home.
Each time she grabs my thigh, she reaches a little bit higher with that fucking, mischievous spark in her eye.
I finally grope the side of her breast, and run my thumb over her bare mounds and down into her cleavage. I pull out my sword and point it at the crowd. Well, mostly I point it at James, and shout out, "The wench is mine!"
People cheer; I place my sword back, and the music stops.
My Bella turns many shades of red and stares at me with disbelief.
I whisper into her ear, "Two can play at that game, Baby."
"Maybe Emmett did have a good idea," she growls and lunges for me.
I stop Julia with a gentle pull on the reins, stand, one leg on the seat, the other on the floor of the front carriage, grabbing Bella into me, and kissing my wench with all of my fucking might. The crowd goes crazy, cheering and throwing flowers and flags into the air.
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By the time we escape the crowd in the Square and drive on towards the stable grounds, we are breathy and silent. The only sound is the echo of Julia's hooves on the pavement.
Bella's chest heaves rapidly as I help Hank remove Julia's harness and bring her into her stall. I take quick glances at Bella while her eyes never leave mine.
Hank's cell rings and he excuses himself to go to the main office. Both Bella and I grab for brushes and groom Julia who brays happily. Bella sweeps the brush gingerly around the left side of Julia's top leg, as I carefully brush down her mane.
I clear my throat. "Are you hungry?"
Bella quickly looks at me, but returns her gaze back to Julia's side. "Ah yeah, sure. What did you have in mind?" She looks up at me and swallows.
I quickly walk around Julia, throw the brushes to the side and grab her around the waist crushing her to my chest. "I want you."
She tries to speak, but I cover her mouth with mine - desperately in need of tasting her. A little whimper mumbles its way over and through my lips from hers, and I lose control pinning Bella against Julia. Fuck, I can't get enough of her. My hands roam over her back and up into her hair. We break for a short breath and I quickly kiss along her neck and up her jaw to her waiting mouth. She cries out.
Then, a loud bray escapes Julia, she moves to the side and Bella and I land on the straw-laden floor. Julia continues to bray and stomp.
Bella breathlessly tries to regain her composure. "I think she thinks you are hurting me."
I pull us up off the floor holding Bella gently trying to show Julia I am not hurting her. "Julia, it's okay. I'm not hurting Bella."
Bella slowly walks to Julia with a hand outstretched, talking softly. "Julia, Edward wasn't hurting me, Girl. I'm okay." She reaches for Julia's ears and pets them with soft strokes. "It's okay. It's okay."
Julia nuzzles closer to Bella with a low bray.
I start to walk to them, but Julia stands her ground with a huff and a snort.
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We finally arrive back home smelling like mule, dirt and straw. I pull a piece from Bella's hair. She looks up at me, removes a piece of straw from behind my ear and I grab at her, pulling her closer to me.
"Oh Edward, I'm rank. I need a shower." Yet, she slowly runs her hands up my chest and through my hair. "God, you smell so manly."
"You mean I stink," I whisper into her ear as I nibble on it.
She hums, "Hmmmm, yeah. A good, manly stink from hard work, your cologne and your sweet sweat."
We back our way into the living room, but fucking tumble over onto one of the sofas. I fall back with Bella straddling me on top. With one good turn, I flip her underneath me. I could pound into her with full force, but I want slowly to feel her heat react to my movements, sliding my hips over her and savoring each electric shock of our friction. She mirrors every one of my strokes with a grinding rotation of her hips. I grab her left leg and lift it up over my chest, giving me more room and spreading Bella wider.
When her eyes close and she exhales a long, silent breath, she stills her hips and wraps her legs around me tightly.
I look down at her as she opens her eyes and starts to hum the '1812 Overture'. I laugh, but she does me in. Two seconds later, Bella feels the aftershock and bolding sings,
"Ah! Sweet mystery of life.
At last I've found thee. Ah!
I know at last the secret of it all!"
Now I'm hysterical. That's the song Madeline Kahn sings in the movie, 'Young Frankenstein' when the monster takes her. This woman never ceases to surprise me.
Then, on top of all of that, she starts to giggle into hysterics and hiccups. "Oh, Edward ... hiccup ... that was the ... hiccup ... best dry ... hiccup ... hump I have ever had ... hiccup."
I stand and reach my hand out to her. "Time for a shower." I adjust my pants. "I'm a little sticky."
Bella smile and wiggles her eyebrows. "Whoo hoo ... hiccup ... round two. Race you to the bathroom … hiccup."
I grunt. "I can't run in my condition."
"Oh, poor baby … hiccup … you don't want to chafe your jewels." She taunts me as she backs into the hallway.
I retaliate. "Anything happens to these fucking babies, just remember you're out of fucking commission, too."
Bella carefully puts her arm around my waist, "Then, allow me to help you … hiccup ... old man." And as we walk, she cups my balls over my pants and holds them carefully in her hand.
"Let me carry your caliente cojones … hiccup … with care. I wouldn't want your … hiccup ... nefarious nuts to be criminally cracked …. hiccup ...
I'll protect your succulent … hiccup … semen, producing sacs for our future children's … hiccup … sake."
She bats her eyes.
"Allow me to pamper your privates … hiccup ... Knead your nards ... hiccup … Tap your testicle."
Are you done?" I mumble.
"Scrunch your scrotum?" … hiccup.
"Bella?" I sigh.
"Um, genuflect … hiccup."
I interrupt. "My genitals?"
"You got it! … hiccup."
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Bella takes it upon herself to perpetually pamper my procreative parts to perfection; her words not mine.
She draws a bath, pouring this purplish oil into the water. It froths up in violet bubbles. I frown and think to myself, "Looks too fucking froo-froo."
The lights are dim and shadows are barely visible. Bella walks back into the room and there is a faint outline of her voluptuous curves. I smile to myself. She has 70's love songs playing softly through the speakers.
As I sit up allowing her room to kneel behind me in the tub, I relax my muscles with her gentle touch over my shoulders and the back of my neck. Her full breasts crush against my back while her hands massage my scalp and temples.
"Why don't you come in front of me, so I can touch you, Bella?"
"Later, this is about you," she whispers into my ear and I fucking shiver.
She lathers her hands and runs them slowly up my arms in a circular motion, deeply kneading her fingers into my skin and weaving those fingers between mine. She lightly touches my fingertips up to my wrists and then to my awaiting palms. She leisurely massages figure 'eights' into the core of my hands, a tingling sensation crawls through my veins and out the tips of every strand of hair.
"Do you feel relaxed?" she asks.
My power of speech is minimal, but I mumble a 'yes'.
Bella continues down my backbone with light waves of crossing motion from left to right, one hand over the other. She deeply massages my lower back with her thumbs, digging strongly and kneading my muscles. It feels so good. It's everything and nothing sexual, but pleasure soars throughout my layers.
"Edward, I'm going to sit in front of you. I want you to lie you head back onto the cushion and make room for me between your legs."
I do as she wants.
Leaning over me and massaging my temples and jaw line, Bella's breasts tickle my chest with her harden nipples. I want to squeeze and pinch, but I know she is lost in her need to please me. I lie back, close my eyes and feel every stroke.
She barely brushes her lips over my temples, down my jaw and to my lips. I try to kiss her, but she continues her breathless pecks down my neck over my chest to my stomach.
I tighten as her tongue lingers over my belly button and lavishly licks the inner walls. If she does get to Moses's staff, I'm ready to part her Sea!
"Bella, I love all of this, but it's more important to me that we both have pleasure. Baby, when it's about me, it's about you."
"Then, what do you want me to do?" She leans up to move the hair out of my eyes.
"I want to do this very badly." I squeeze her breasts together. "And I want to do this, too." I run my tongue over her nipples, giving each a bite. "And if you allow me … "I grab her by the waist and center her over me. She slides easily onto me. "I want to be buried deep inside of you."
The song, 'How Deep is Your Love" plays and Bella and I laugh and say at the same time, "Perfect timing."
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After a rinse, roll and another rinse in the shower, we neatly lie in bed. Bella leans partially over my side with my arms around her middle and her arms over mine, intertwining our fingers.
"You didn't eat very much tonight," I bring up cautiously. "Are you feeling all right?"
She turns to look up at me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just want to lighten up my diet before the wedding."
"This isn't about losing weight?" I question in horror.
"No, no. Unless you feel I should?" she questions.
I abruptly snap. "Fucking hell, no! I don't want you to change anything."
She smiles. "It's rather nerve wracking to plan a wedding, Edward, and nerves and food don't mix." She bites her cheek and I pull.
"If this is going to be too stressful, we can fucking elope!"
"You know, I would have thought that a few years ago, but with you, I want to walk to you and see that something in your eyes."
"Fuck, Bella, that's every time I look at you." I lean down to kiss her, maneuvering our bodies with Bella on her back and me on my side, running my hand over her belly. "I want …" I hesitate.
"What do you want?" She looks up at me with those chocolate eyes smoothing my hair off my forehead.
"Everything. Kids." I look away.
Bella cups my chin, turns to her side and stares into my eyes. "As soon as Alice gets pregnant, we can. I can't do that to them, Edward. I just know it will happen for us right away. She would be devastated."
"How's all that fertility shit going for her?" I ask.
"She's following everything the practitioner is giving her from the Myofascial release massages to the vitamins and diet. Both she and Jasper are under treatment. They even scheduled their best times for sex."
"That's fucking crazy. Man, poor Jazz." I rub her belly a little lower. "I guess for us it's just practice." I smirk.
"I guess so," she whispers.
"What round is this?" I kid.
"Seven." She hides in a kiss.
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Okay, a little lovin … seven times … Go Edward. Next chapter, a little Emmett, a little Renee … a lot of wedding planning.
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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.
Skater Boy and Boarder Girl: 10137826
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 to: Midnight-Confessions 9182601 by ohgeefantasy
Careless Hearts 9881551 by ohgeefantasy
Pudding Cup: 10189248 (Entry in The Bad Boys of Twilight Contest. Awards: First Place Public Vote & Two Judges)
And to: Edward Cullen FBI Special Agent and Psychic 9626040 by Dinia Steel (complete)
Sequel: Edward Cullen & Friends - Down on the Bayou 10204063
And a shout out rec to: BURN 8999279 by compass54
Also, found this story: Finally in Phoenix 9987411 by laughablelamb
AND: A Crack in the Door 8874295 by jane-with-a-y
AND:New Beginning 10175667 by LadyBeck
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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.
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Recipes:
Getting healthy- High Protein
Tuna Salad
2 cans white tuna, drained
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
½ red bell pepper, finely chopped
¼ cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 medium tomato
Mix everything, but the tomato together.
Core tomato, slice in wedges, but not all the way through the tomato and stuff with tuna mixture.
Seafood Stew
1 ¼ lbs of large shrimp
1 ¼ lbs red snapper fillets
1 lb sea scallops
1 medium lime, halved
1 teaspoon ground coriander
salt to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onion, diced
2 medium carrot, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
1 medium red pepper, diced
1 large can (35 oz) Italian plum tomatoes
1 bouillon cube(chicken or vegetable)
½ cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon dried red pepper
2 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
Devein shrimp and rinse; do not remove shells.
Cut red snapper into 3" by 2" pieces. Rinse scallops to remove sand from crevices. Pull tough muscle from side of each scallop. Into large bowl, squeeze juice from lime, stir in coriander and 1 teaspoon salt. Add shrimp, red snapper, and scallops; toss to coat. Set aside.
Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot, add diced vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes.
Stir in tomatoes with their juice, next 4 ingredients, 1 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 cup water, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon,
heat to boiling over high heat.
Reduce heat to medium-low, cook 5 minutes to blend flavors. Stir seafood into tomato mixture, heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes, until seafood is opaque throughout. Stir in parsley.
Chili
2 ½ lbs boneless top sirloin
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 can (28 oz) tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
Trim fat off beef and cut into 1" cubes
In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat, saute half of the meat, remove, saute the rest and remove.
Add other tablespoon of oil to pot add onion until translucent (5-7 minutes). Add garlic and saute 1 minute. Return meat and juices to pot.
Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt. Heat chili on high until boiling, reduce heat to low and cover, simmering an hour. Stir occasionally. Serve while hot.
Seven Layer Tortilla Pie
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup salsa, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup chopped tomatoes
7 8" tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
½ cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mash pinto beans. Stir in 3/4 cup salsa and garlic. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/4 cup salsa, cilantro, black beans and tomatoes. Place 1 tortilla in a pie plate or tart dish. Spread 3/4 cup pinto bean mixture over tortilla to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with 1/4 cup cheese, and cover with another tortilla. Spread with 2/3 cup black bean mixture, and top with 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering twice. Cover with remaining tortilla, and spread with remaining pinto bean mixture and cheese. Cover with foil, and bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Cut into wedges, and serve with salsa and sour cream.
Asian Flounder
8 green onions
¼ cup fresh cilantro, minced
1 tablespoon fresh (peeled) ginger, minced
2 teaspoons sesame seed oil, divided
4 (6 oz) flounder fillets, skinned
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
⅛ teaspoon salt
4 lemon slices
Remove green tops from onions; slice onion tops into 1-inch pieces to measure 1/4 cup; set aside. Reserve remaining onion tops for another use. Cut white portions of onions into 2-inch pieces.
Combine cilantro, ginger, and 1 teaspoon oil in a 9-inch pie plate. Fold each fillet in half crosswise. Arrange fish spokelike with thinnest portions pointing toward center of dish. Arrange white onion portions between each fillet. Combine 1/4 cup green onion tops, 1 teaspoon oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and salt; pour over fish. Cover with heavy-duty plastic wrap. Microwave at HIGH 4 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Garnish each fillet with a lemon slice.
Thyme-Coated Pork Tenderloin1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 instant onion flakes
1 slice day-old bread, torn
2 large egg whites, lightly beans
1 lb pork tenderloin, trimmed
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Cooking spray
Preheat oven 400°.
Place thyme, onion, and bread in food processor; pulse until fine bread crumbs measure ⅓ cup. Place breadcrumb mixture in a shallow dish. Place egg whites in a shallow dish. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Dip pork into egg whites; dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking sprey. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or thermometer reads . Let stand for 5 minutes. Cut into ¼" thick slices,
Sautéed Turkey Cutlets with Orange-Cranberry Pan Sauce1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
8 (2 oz) turkey cutlets
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup fresh orange juice
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
⅓ cup dried cranberries
Melt butter and oil in skillet over low heat. While butter melts, sprinkle cutlets with salt and pepper. Dredge cutlets into flour, then egg, and back into flour. Raise heat to medium about 2 minutes. Add cutlets to pan, and cook 2 minutes on each side. Remove cutlets from the pan; keep warm. Add juice, mustard and cranberries to pan, scraping at the pan, Bring to a boil and reduce to ⅔ cup (about 5 minutes). Serve sauce over cutlets.
Beef Tenderloin with Mustard and Herbs2 ½ lbs beef tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
⅓ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoons thyme, chopped
1 ½ tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Prepare grill.
Lightly coat beef with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Place beef on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Reduce heat to medium. Grill 30 minutes or until a thermometer registers 145° or until desired degree of doneness, turning to brown on all sides. Let beef stand 10 minutes.
Sprinkle parsley, thyme, and rosemary in an even layer on an 18 x 15–inch sheet of plastic wrap. Brush mustard evenly over beef. Place beef in herb mixture on plastic wrap; roll beef over herbs, pressing gently. Slice beef.
Shrimp Stack
1 tablespoon fat-free Greek yogurt
½ teaspoon fresh lime juice
¼ avocado, chopped
1 crisp rye flatbread
5 cooked large shrimp
Fresh parsley and cracked pepper for garnish
Stir yogurt, lime juice, and avocado together. Place on flatbread. Top with shrimp. Garnish with parsley and pepper.
English Muffin Egg Pizzas
4 English muffins
Olive oil
8 tomato slices
4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
Grated mozzarella cheese
Oregano
Kosher salt
Toast English muffin halves and place on a cookie sheet. Drizzle each with olive oil, then layer on tomato slices, hard-cooked egg slices (1/2 an egg each), and a little grated mozzarella. Sprinkle with oregano and kosher salt. Broil 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Melon and Steak with Smoked Paprika Dressing¾ lb boneless sirloin steak, trimmed
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 medium red onion, cut into thick rings
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and cut lengthwise
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
Preheat a lightly oiled grill pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper; grill with onion, turning onion after about 4 minutes and steak after 7 minutes, until meat is medium-rare or to desired degree of doneness. Transfer meat and onion to a cutting board; let rest 5 minutes before slicing steak.
In a small bowl, combine honey, lime, olive oil, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper; stir with a whisk. Set dressing aside.
Slice steak; arrange on platter with cantaloupe, onions, cilantro, and mint; drizzle with dressing.
Chicken, Cannellini Bean, and Artichoke Salad2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 (25 oz can) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 (6 oz jar) artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped
4 butterhead lettuce leaves
1 ½ fresh dill, chopped for garnish
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add onion to pan; cook until soft (4-5 minutes). Add garlic to pan; cook 2 minutes. Add chicken, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to pan; sauté until cooked through (3-4 minutes). Transfer to a plate to cool. Combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, turmeric, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in a large bowl; whisk well. Add cannellini beans, artichoke hearts, and chicken mixture to bowl, stirring to combine. Chill 1 hour. Place chicken salad evenly into butterhead lettuce leaves; garnish with 1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh dill.
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And please, review … it makes me so happy. I swear.
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Next up: BPOV