Love Among the Thorns

Love
 
Among

The Thorns

By

Empress LaBlaQue

Dedication

To anyone facing the difficulties and stereotypes, surrounding homosexuality

&

 
For those people who love them the most.

Love what you are; be honest with yourself and your loved ones.

May your life be filled with
inner peace
and abundant joy, forever.

~ Empress LaBlaQue

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. 

Love Among the Thorns by Empress LaBlaque

Red Rose™ Publishing

Publishing with a touch of Class! ™

The symbol of the Red Rose and Red Rose is a trademark of Red Rose™ Publishing

Red Rose™ Publishing

Copyright© 2009
Empress LaBlaque

ISBN: 978-1-60435-481-2

Cover Artist: Charlotte Parks

Editor: Carrie RO

 
Line Editor:
Jami Hodo

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away.

This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

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comes with a touch of Class!

Love
 
Among

The Thorns

By

Empress LaBlaQue

Love Among the Thorns - Part 1

I managed to finish high school and move on to college, when I met Jeffery Wayne Vincent. Our Science Lab assignment was to count onion cells under a microscope. Although he seemed innocent, Jeffery Vincent was about to put a new spin on the term
cell.
Jeff’s skin had a healthy bronze tone. His juicy lips were shapely, and round hooded eyes gave him a mysterious air.
 
Although he was not buff or muscular, he had just enough muscles for me.
  

Even though Jeff didn’t know me very well, he decided to prank me. As I stood studiously behind my microscope counting my cells, Jeff had someone draw my attention away from my task.
 
While I was occupied, he switched my slide with a slide of live sperm. Can you imagine my horror when I returned and saw that my onion cells were swimming about?
  

Everyone was in on the prank except me. When I made the horrifying discovery the entire class broke into laughter, while I ran out of the door crying. Of course, Jeff caught my odd expression on his cell phone camera. After an apology and a brief courtship, I became Mrs. Celeste Vincent.
  

Jeff was dependable, hard working, friendly, and witty.
 
He didn’t smoke and hardly ever took a drink. Yes, he was a little flirtatious, but it was all in fun. I learned to live with his insatiable need for attention. He was easy-going with a wild sense of humor. As a result, I thought nothing of his parading around the house in my silk robe and powder-puff slippers. It was all in fun. That’s what I kept telling myself. It’s all just a big joke.

           
Jeff and Clint were the best of buddies. There was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other.
 
They loved spending time at Clint’s lodge. A peaceful day of hunting or fishing always made Jeff glow. Nothing could have made me believe that Clint was
not
the ideal friend for Jeff. Clint, although quite handsome, remained single and unattached. The two were avid sports fans and took the kids to most sporting events. They were a team, eager to take on any task I asked of them. They’d do anything to be in each other’s company.

           
One morning, after breakfast, Jeff announced that he and Clint were going fishing for the weekend. Although, I adored Clint, I had to attend a very important seminar in Dayton. It was imperative that Jeff stay with the kids. This time, Jeff was unusually persistent about going to the lake. Finding another sitter was out of the question, but Jeff didn’t seem to understand. “But Jeff, honey,” I pleaded, almost unacknowledged. “This seminar is very important.
 
It could mean a raise for me.
 
Can’t you and Clint go fishing next weekend?”
 

           
As usual, Jeff was cleaning up after breakfast. On hearing my reply, he paused, his large, round eyes held a pleading stare. When he saw I was not buying his exaggerated expression, he shrugged then continued to place the milk in the refrigerator. Standing upright, he bantered playfully, “Ah, come on, Celeste. I promise this will be the last trip until deer season. Come on, please—please—please,” he whined. His dark brown eyes squinted into a pitiful frown.
 

           
I could never resist Jeff’s humor. So, I fixed a smile across my lips. “No,” I teased. “Not this time.”
  

           
Jeff balked. “But Clint will be expecting me, sweetheart.” He reached for the butter and started to place it on the shelf in the refrigerator. “Baby, Fannie could keep the kids this time.
 
She loves the kids!”
 

           
I was lightly amused by my husband’s whimsical absurdity. I smiled, and again— “No,” I insisted. “Clint won’t mind this time.”
 

           
All of a sudden, Jeff grew a bit impatient. “Crap, Celeste. Fannie can keep the damn kids!”

           
Shocked that Jeff would become angry enough to swear, I stopped sweeping. He hardly ever used profanity, especially after the kids were born. He usually had a happy-go-lucky attitude. I was appalled, but answered with a firm, “No, Jeff!” I couldn’t believe he had become so incensed. “Fannie’s children are visiting from out of town. She will want to spend time with them.”
 

           
Jeff almost threw himself down on the chair at the breakfast table. He was disappointed, and it showed.
 
Although I felt his frustration, I couldn’t give in. Feeling a need to console him, I calmly went over and affectionately cupped his freshly shaven face.
 
Pulling his face upward I gently kissed his lips. Angrily, he snatched away from my grasp.

           
“You don’t understand, Celeste!” he complained.

           
Jeff was trying my patience. I watched him storm around the kitchen, seething with hostility and self-pity. No, I couldn’t understand. “Jeff, what’s gotten into you? Babe, you know the kids come first.” It was as if I had slapped him. A tranquil appearance passed over him. There was no doubt that his kids were very important to him.

           
“You’re right, Celeste,” he replied mechanically. “The kids are important.” His eyes held an icy stare. He quietly left the kitchen, gently closing the back door behind him. Shortly afterwards, I heard the car speeding away. I guess he was almost late for work. After all, he did have to open the store that day.

           
Jeff enjoyed working at
The Sports Center.
It was the lifeline to his sanity. Manly things fascinated him. He constantly surrounded himself with the latest technology in hunting gear.