Bound to Liberty

by Kiru Taye

  First Published in Great Britain in 2020 by

  LOVE AFRICA PRESS

  103 Reaver House, 12 East Street, Epsom KT17 1HX

  www.loveafricapress.com

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  The right of Kiru Taye/Kai Tyler to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  ISBN: 9780463156643

  Also available as paperback

  BLURB

  As if life isn’t tough enough for James Coker, rejected and nearly killed by family, he is also a closeted gay man in a country where being gay is outlawed. So when the first man he's ever loved gets engaged to a woman, James’s solution to heartbreak is to indulge in a holiday fling.

  In contrast, Ethan Eze has had life relatively easy. Born in the 'Land of the Free' and nurtured within a family where he can be whoever he wants to be, he's a military veteran who is not afraid of going for what he wants. When he meets James, Ethan wants him.

  Desire burns between them and soon blurs into devotion. But James is not ready to lose his heart again, certainly not to another man who can eat his cake and have it. Ethan has fought for his country. Now will he fight for love?

  Bound to Liberty is a story about breaking free from mental chains and living a life of boundless love.

  Content Warning: homophobia, threat of forced outing, depictions of anxiety.

  While this story can be read as a standalone, it is best enjoyed after reading Bound to Ransom, Bound series book 2.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I want to give a special mention to Oluwakemi for your help with getting this story finally completed. Your feedback was super awesome. You rock!

  Thank you to my editor Kaitesi for picking out the sensitivities I’d missed.

  DEDICATION

  To the brothers, sisters and others flying the rainbow flag in what is continually a hostile environment.

  Chapter One

  JAMES COKER had a sure thing.

  The notion roused a playful grin on his face as he leaned into the supple black leather sofa of the VIP Lounge and took in the view ahead of him.

  Afrobeats music played by the house DJ blasted out of loudspeakers. Revellers gyrated and crammed the main floor one level below.

  Always packed, Bold nightclub opened less than a year ago and became one of the most popular party venues in Victoria Island, Lagos. Alcohol flowed constantly. People wore scant clothing—men and women. Even the arctic air blowing from the air conditioners didn’t stay cold for long as bodies ground against bodies, generating heat.

  “The place is rocking tonight.” James raised his voice so he could be heard above the thumping baseline.

  “You can say that again,” Kezie Nwobodo replied from his perch on the sofa next to James.

  Party scenes and clubbing got predictable and boring.

  James didn’t mind being here, though. He would happily go wherever Kezie led.

  He tilted his head and swept his gaze over his best friend and secret lover of a decade.

  Dim lighting caught the brandy colour of Kezie’s eyes under arched dark brows. For a moment, James drank in the sight of the man—strong jaw, oblong face, twisted locs piled in a man bun, fitted long-sleeved black shirt hugging broad shoulders and chest, and long legs in charcoal trousers extending to feet covered in black and white leather sneakers.

  This, right here, was the reason James had a sure thing.

  A smile curled his lips, and tingles sizzled down his spine. His heart rate thudded along with the beats of the music.

  Unlike many of the people in the club hoping to score and go home with a partner, James didn’t have to preen and pose to get anyone.

  His man sat beside him.

  Not near enough to touch.

  Nor as close as James would like.

  Granted, he didn’t have everything he desired.

  Still, he had a splendid life and celebrated his blessings.

  He’d recently landed a promotion at his brother’s construction company, which was partly the reason he’d come out tonight.

  As the new Director of Design, the team relied on him to take the business to the next level of expansion as per their long-term strategies.

  The new job proved an incredible vote of confidence from his older brother, Henry, who had worked hard to build the company from scratch and had employed James, first as an intern while at University, and then as full-time staff upon graduation.

  James had always wanted to compensate his sibling in any way he could for the continued love and support Henry had shown him throughout his life.

  As such, he wanted to be part of the success of Coker Constructions because that was Henry’s dream, and he loved his brother enough to make his wish a reality.

  While James lived his brother’s ideal career, he harboured a personal dream of having a man who would love him and only him.

  The man sitting right next to him had been in his life for fourteen years.

  If James could wangle it, they would be together for the rest of their lives.

  There’d been years while pursuing his degree programme when they’d lost touch with each other.

  Kezie’s parents had sent him and his twin, Gozie, abroad to study. When they’d returned to Nigeria, Kezie had sought James out.

  “You’re very quiet tonight,” he said, leaning sideways so that he could speak in Kezie’s ear.

  The loud music discouraged extended conversations.

  This venue was designed for one purpose—letting all inhibitions loose with the help of booze, boogie, and booty. What else would anyone expect in a place named Bold?

  However, the other man wasn’t usually subdued during their jolly jaunts. Jokes and lively conversations were his staples.

  “Just have a few things on my mind.” Kezie waved off the curiosity with his left hand.

  James’s scalp prickled. His inquisitive mind wouldn’t accept that there were things his lover kept from him. Still, a nightclub wasn’t the place to discuss personal issues.

  He swallowed down the unease and focused on ways to liven up their evening. Perhaps he should drag his lover to a dark corner and canoodle, like Gozie, who currently indulged with his female dates.

  Low lighting provided pockets of seclusion, allowing for intimacy and stolen moments.

  He inclined his body towards Kezie, inhaling the scent of spicy cologne as well as musky skin. His pulse raced as he brushed his lips against his lover’s earlobe on purpose.

  “Anything I can do to ease your mind?” James made sure his hot breath whispered against the other man’s flesh.

  Kezie gasped and jerked his head back, his eyes wide and flashing amber fire. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  James curled his mouth into a smirk. “Just doing what everyone else is doing. Having fun.”

  “We can’t, and you know it. We’re in public.” The desire in Kezie’s eyes softened his harsh words.

  James’s jaw tightened. This restraint placed on him, mainly by society, and partly by his boyfriend, to hide whom he loved in public proved to be a source of frustration.

  Some of the dancers in the nightclub were in positions that bordered on pornographic.

  Yet, he couldn’t even steal a simple kiss
from the man he’d been in a relationship with for almost half his life.

  James shrugged, trying to hide his growing discomfort. “No one is even looking in this direction. Gozie is busy with his women, and we’re in a dark corner.”

  Kezie shook his head, and his eyes sparkled with sensual promise. “We’ll do whatever you want when we get back to mine.”

  James had to accept his placating words. Puffing out air, he raised his hand, called the waiter, and ordered more drinks. He might as well sink himself into the booze since he wouldn’t be getting much out of Kezie until they were alone and in private.

  One rule of their relationship forbade any public indications that they were ‘dating.’ This meant that sometimes, James had to watch Kezie with his female escorts.

  Occasionally James, Kezie, and Gozie went out on triple dates, each paired with a woman. However, James had never allowed his female companions to think there would be anything more than platonic between them.

  Minutes later, the male server in an all-black outfit returned. The man carried a shiny tray and decanted the cocktails onto the low dark wooden table.

  “Thank you.” James accepted the copper mug of Moscow mule.

  One of the things he loved about this nightclub was that the bartenders had finesse and flair he hadn’t encountered in any other Lagos bars.

  He took a sip of the crisp, refreshing drink, and sighed with pleasure as he relaxed again. Nowhere else served him the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, except when he made the cocktail at home.

  Close to the chest-high railing designed to blend with the rest of the venue, Gozie ground hip-to-hip between two girls in mini-skirts, halter tops, and stilettos. With so much bare skin on display, very little stayed in the imagination. They seemed to be providing their own sensual show to anyone interested in watching.

  On spotting the new drinks arrive, Gozie detached himself and sauntered over to the table.

  “You’re so shameless,” Kezie said in jest to his brother, a smirk curling his lips. “Are you actually going home with both of them?”

  James suppressed laughter and swallowed another gulp of Moscow mule.

  The Nwobodo twins were heartthrobs. Babe magnets. Party animals.

  Unlike his brother, who still changed women like underwear, Kezie had calmed down somewhat.

  Gozie chuckled as he leaned over the table to grab the drinks. “You know I’ll share them with you, Kez.”

  This close together, the similarities between the brothers lay stark. They had exactly the same facial features, body build, and height, and styled their hair in similar locs. Today, people could differentiate them using their clothing. Gozie wore a grey shirt, while Kezie was in black.

  However, James knew there were other distinguishing marks buried under the clothing, marks only a lover would notice. Like a scar on Kezie’s back, that he’d acquired after he injured himself slipping off a metal bunk bed in school.

  “Nah,” Kezie replied with a shake of his head. “I’m not in the mood for that tonight.”

  “I guess you’re off the market these days,” Gozie spoke, turning his head to wink. “You’re almost becoming a monk, like James.”

  James, who had just taken a sip of his drink, spluttered onto his hand and clothes. He reached for one of the paper serviettes on the table and dabbed his shirt and trousers.

  “What? I’m not a monk!” James protested. He wasn’t celibate, unless he counted the almost seven days since he’d last had sex.

  “Really?” Gozie asked, one brow raised in challenge. “When was the last time you fucked a woman?”

  James opened his mouth and closed it. He glanced at Kezie, who just stared at him with twinkling eyes which said, “He has you there.”

  He was tempted to say, “I may not have fucked a woman, but I’m certainly going to fuck a man tonight.”

  Instead, he shook his head and stood up. “My sex life is not up for discussion. I’m going to the bathroom to clean this mess.”

  He waved his hand up and down to indicate the spillage on his clothes, barely visible in the dim lighting. Still, he needed a reason to escape.

  Gozie had spoken as if he knew that James and Kezie were lovers.

  As much as James was reluctant to out himself as a gay man, Kezie was worse. His friend’s aversion bordered on paranoia sometimes.

  To James’s knowledge, Kezie hadn’t told his twin about the depth of his relationship with James. As far as anyone knew, they were the best of friends. Period.

  Then again, considering their history, Gozie had to suspect, surely, even if he never openly questioned his brother.

  In the gents, James did his business, zipped up, and walked to the sink to wash his hands. He stared at his reflection in the mirror.

  He wore a short-sleeved pure cotton navy T-shirt with a crew neckline, black slim-fit chinos, and brown suede chukka boots with white soles. His hair was cut in a style which needed a little gel to give it a wavy effect.

  Not conceited enough to claim to be the most handsome man around, James would admit to being blessed with the good looks that ran in his family—the high cheekbones, Nubian nose, and ebony skin.

  If he considered himself to be a member of the Danladi clan.

  His chest tightened, and his mouth soured.

  Shaking off the gloom descending on him, he reached in his trouser pocket, pulled out the stick of Mentos and popped an orb into his mouth.

  He chewed the sticky mint and scrubbed the damp patch on his clothes, as if he could cleanse the horrible memories of his family history away.

  The squeaking door drew his attention to the new arrival in the gents.

  “Hello,” the man said as he strode across to the urinals.

  “Hi.” James tilted his head in recognition of the barman who had served their drinks, whose nametag read ‘Damola.’

  He finished at the sink and walked over to the hot-air hand dryer. He hated those things, believing they dispersed germs rather than killed them. Still, he had no other solution for dealing with the damp shirt.

  “I can help you with that.”

  “Pardon?” James glanced back.

  “I said I can help you dry the shirt,” Damola repeated.

  “Oh. It’s okay, I can use this.” James pointed at the contraption on the wall.

  Damola twisted his face in a grimace. “I don’t trust those things. I have something better.” The waiter walked to the door and opened it. “Come on.”

  James didn’t need another prompt. He followed the man down the corridor and through a door marked ‘Staff Only.’

  “Are you sure it’s okay to be in here?” James asked.

  “Sure. You’re with me.” Damola winked at him. The man had a lovely smile brightened by white teeth.

  They walked into another space that looked like a changing room with grey metal lockers stacked against the wall. On a wooden counter above the sinks sat two black hair dryers.

  “There you go.” Damola plugged one in, and a hot breeze blasted out.

  James tugged his shirt out and held it while Damola directed the flow of air.

  “I’m James, by the way.” James spoke loudly because of the whirring sound.

  “I know. I’m Damola.” The man pointed at the tag with his free hand. He was good-looking, the same height as James, with walnut-hued skin and afro hair cropped short at the sides and stacked at the top. His bulging muscles stretched his shirt and made him look like a gym rat.

  “You know my name? How?” James asked. He’d never spoken to the man before except to order drinks, and he’d never mentioned his name.

  “I heard your friends, the twins, say it,” Damola replied as his Pepsodent smile returned.

  “You must be very observant,” James commented.

  How many other strangers knew his name just from overhearing it, or seeing him with Kezie and Gozie?

  A chill blanketed his back.

  The Nwobodo
twins were media celebrities. James had kept out of the limelight. He avoided public scrutiny as much as possible.

  “It comes as part of the job.” The man’s shoulders rose and fell.

  “Still,” James said, trying to quell the uneasiness making his stomach quiver. “I’m only one person out of hundreds, possibly thousands, that visit this club. Don’t tell me you remember every name.”

  “Of course not.” Damola shook his head as his grin widened. “I noticed you from the first time you came in with the twins. They are loud and like to show off, always with different girls at the club. But, you’re different. You don’t play their games. For me, you stand out from the crowd. And of course, you be fine boy.”

  James’s head jerked back as he glanced at the man’s grinning face.

  Stroking the goatee on his chin, Damola stared with intensity, his gaze not wavering.

  Heat streaked across James's face as the man’s words sank in.

  Was the guy flirting with him?

  James took a step back, feeling a little awkward.

  “Thanks for this.” He tucked his shirt back into his trousers. The damp spot was gone. “I better get back to my friends.”

  He stepped back again, creating distance between them.

  “Wait.” Damola pulled a card out of his back pocket. “I know I’m not in your league for friendship or whatever.” He sounded a little bitter in the way he said ‘whatever.’ “But I think we have something in common. If you ever want to talk or go out for a drink, call me.”

  Damola shoved the card into James’s hand.

  Yep, the guy was definitely propositioning James.

  James opened his mouth and closed it, caught between being flattered and being freaked out.

  This wouldn’t be the first time he’d received an offer from a man. The others had been from friends or existing acquaintances. Not a stranger.