Freddie Untangled

By Kiru Taye

Kike has struggled for years to break out of the chains of her marriage to Lekan. After moving out of the Ogun estate, she has to cope with condemnation not just from family and friends but from unseen followers as the story of her relationship with Freddie becomes media fodder. She’s finally free to love a man who loves her but is she about to lose everything else that matters to her?

Freddie has a new family—Kike and the kids—and he has to pull out all the stops if he is to outwit a powerful sociopathic pastor as well as and deal with ghosts from his past that come to haunt him. He will do whatever it takes to keep the woman he loves safe but the price might be his sanity and his life.
Lekan is not about to give up on a woman he sees as his property and uses every weapon in his arsenal to get Kike back, including following through on the threats he made.

With the odds stacked up against Kike and Freddie, is a happy future together even possible? Will they ever be out of Lekan’s reach?

This story unravels in two instalments—this is the second part and not a standalone.
The first part, Freddie Entangled is out now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Love Africa Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370701872

Kiru Taye

As a lover of romance novels, Kiru wanted to read stories about Africans falling in love. When she couldn’t find those books, she decided to write the stories she wanted to read.Kiru writes passionate romance and sensual erotica stories featuring African characters whether on the continent or in the Diaspora. When she's not writing you can find her either immersed in a good book or catching up with friends and family. She currently lives in the South of England with her husband and three children.Kiru is a founding member of Romance Writers of West Africa. In 2011, her debut romance novella, His Treasure, won the Book of the Year at the Love Romances Café Awards. She is the 2015 Romance Writer of the Year at the Nigerian Writers Awards.

Book preview

Freddie Untangled

The Essien Series, Book 7

By

Kiru Taye

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.

Freddie Untangled

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 9781370701872

Copyright© 2017 Kiru Taye

Cover Artist: Love Bites and Silk

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.

KT Press

www.kirutaye.com

BOOKS BY KIRU TAYE

Essien Series

Keeping Secrets

Making Scandal

Riding Rebel

Kola

A Very Essien Christmas

Freddie Entangled

Freddie Untangled

Challenge Series

Valentine

Engaged

Worthy

Captive

Passion Shields Series

Scars

Secrets

Scores

Seven Sinful Secrets Anthology

Men of Valor Series

His Treasure,

His Strength,

and His Princess

(now available in one box set) – Men of Valor 1-3 box set

Her Protector

Sacred Amulet Series

Outcast

Bound Series

Bound to Fate

Bound to Ransom

Bound to Passion

Blurb

Kike has struggled for years to break out of the chains of her marriage to Lekan. After moving out of the Ogun estate, she has to cope with condemnation not just from family and friends but from unseen followers as the story of her relationship with Freddie becomes media fodder. She’s finally free to love a man who loves her but is she about to lose everything else that matters to her?

Freddie has a new family—Kike and the kids—and he has to pull out all the stops if he is to outwit a powerful sociopathic pastor as well as and deal with ghosts from his past that come to haunt him. He will do whatever it takes to keep the woman he loves safe but the price might be his sanity and his life.

Lekan is not about to give up on a woman he sees as his property and uses every weapon in his arsenal to get Kike back, including following through on the threats he made.

With the odds stacked up against Kike and Freddie, is a happy future together even possible? Will they ever be out of Lekan’s reach?

This story unravels in two instalments—this is the second part and not a standalone.

The first part, Freddie Entangled is out now.

Dedication

To every woman who has been name-called, slut-shamed and vilified for being a woman.

I stand with you.

Chapter One

You can’t leave me and you know why.

Her husband’s threatening words echoed in Kike’s mind as she stood in the oppressive and humid Lagos heat outside a dove-coloured walled duplex in Dolphin Estate. Tightness in her chest made it difficult to breath.

Here you go, the estate agent’s cheery sing-song voice floated in the air like musical notes accompanied by the jingle of the keys in her manicured hand.

Thank you, Donna. Wait for us out here. Kike forced a smile to hide the apprehension knotting her belly as she glanced at the unlocked front door. Her future lay beyond the maroon-painted wooden slab. A place she would call home if she followed through with her plans.

Yes, Ma’am. The lady stepped aside, smile still plastered on her face.

Kike would give it to the younger woman. She always seemed bright and bubbly. The kind of vivaciousness few men could resist. Even Freddie had been attracted to her when they’d met at a party, weeks ago.

The fitted, monochrome-panel, knee-length dress Donna wore clung to slender curves and stylish platform shoes extended her legs, adding to her pretty face.

A glance at Freddie showed he didn’t pay the woman any attention. He appeared to be surveying their environment, his mind probably assessing any potential threats by new their location.

Heat radiated across Kike’s chest. She shouldn’t be so pleased at something so simple. Yet she wanted to do a fist pump that she’d finally met a man who didn’t have eyes for every woman within the vicinity.

An identical building stood next door connected by a structural wall internally and separated externally by a low brick and metal wall. The two linked buildings didn’t share the same entrance gates, which proved appealing to Kike. She wanted privacy even if she couldn’t afford the luxury of a secluded, detached home.

She stepped through the doorway into a short hall. Daylight spilled from the small window of the cloakroom to her left.

Thanks, Donna, Freddie said behind her as he followed and poked his head into the guest bedroom to her right.

Kike had brought Freddie to the property she planned to rent. To what could be her new home. The first time she’d taken a step this far in her bid to leave Lekan. She’d never been brave enough. Never been bold enough to share her plans to leave her husband with anyone else, except with her friend, Tolani.

Her hands shook. To stop the trembling, she clutched the leather tote to her left side in a tight grip and fingered the multi-coloured intricately-beaded necklace resting on her collar.

Have you viewed this house previously? Freddie asked, his raspy voice drawing her out of her roving thoughts. He probably wondered how she knew her way around the house.

Yes. Tolani used to live here before she moved to Lekki. She’s just finished refurbishing it ready to let it out, Kike replied, stepping into a vacant alabaster-walled open-plan living room.

We can have the sofas over here. She walked to the far right end near the large slider windows overlooking the side and back of the house.

Makes sense. An entertainment unit can be set up in this alcove under the stairs, Freddie pointed to the corner.

I’d rather have a love seat there. There are going to be books on the shelving unit built under the staircase. It’ll be a perfect reading corner. She smiled as she pictured relaxing on the chair to read.

A love seat, huh? Freddie’s ebony eyes twinkled with amusement and one dark brow curved high.

Her cheeks heated and she lowered her gaze. Gosh! He made her feel like a bashful teenage girl sometimes.

Well, we won’t fit a full length sofa in there and I don’t want to stuff it with one of those fat armchairs. I saw a beautiful mid-Century style two-seater that I think will fit the alcove.

His lips parted and he nodded slowly. You seem to know exactly what you want.

She lifted her gaze to meet his. For a moment, everything around them seemed to blur, leaving just the two of them. Her breath caught, her skin tingled. She swallowed and worked saliva into her mouth.

I’ve always known what I wanted. I just haven’t been bold enough to go for it before. She referred to more than just furniture. He seemed to know it by the way his eyes darkened. She broke eye contact and walked away from him, afraid of what she would do if she stayed close to him any longer.

We have space for a six-seat dining table here. She pointed at the spot close to the entrance hall and headed in the other direction, her heels tapping a steady beat on the hard flooring. And the kitchen is this way.

This would be half of her current cookery space but with the newly-fitted solid oak units and egg shell doors, she had no worries except to move in.

Nice, Freddie’s voice held wonder. Smiling, he knocked on the wooden worktop as if testing it out.

Touching her throat, she took a step back and watched him. He looked like a child in a sweet shop. She’d certainly never seen a man express such interest in a kitchen.

This is good to go. I’m picturing one of those American style fridge-freezers with an ice-maker over here. He pointed at the empty spot by the connecting wall. I presume you want a washing machine so that can go next to the sink and a cooker will go there. He pointed to a break in the counter designed to accommodate an electric or gas hob and oven. A stainless steel curved extractor hood protruded from the wall high above the gap.

You seem to know what should go where. She waved her hand around the space, unable to hide her amusement.

He chuckled and leaned his denim-covered hip on the counter, his black t-shirt stretched across defined muscles. When I moved into the apartment with Tochi, I was the one who chose the appliances and designed the space. The building had just been completed so it had been a blank canvas.

Oh, so you have interior design skills.

Kitten, I have so many other skills you’re yet to discover. He winked at her.

Oh, she gasped. Her heart skipped a beat. It did that every time he used the pet name and even more when his words held so much decadent promise.

Damn, she wanted to discover what skills he had. This wasn’t the place or time, though. Donna waited outside. Kike didn’t need wagging tongues.

Sucking in a sharp breath, she licked her lips and tasted the cherry lip matte. I better show you the rest of the place.

She hurried out as if the devil chased her. Although Freddie proved to be no demon, he wasn’t an angel either. His dark passion could consume her, if she didn’t tread carefully.

Upstairs, she pointed out the different areas—three bedrooms and the family bathroom.

This is the master, she stated the obvious. The large bedroom had a built-in closet and ensuite facility, which the other upstairs rooms didn’t have. Ranti and Yomi need separate rooms. They can have the other two and I’ll have this one.

On her single income, she couldn’t afford a huge house like the one she shared with her husband. Leaving Lekan meant walking away from the ostentatious lifestyle. A price she would happily pay for her peace of mind.

Is there space for the security team? Freddie glanced around the bathroom.

Yes, there’s a 2-bed boys' quarter. She sashayed to the large window overlooking the back courtyard and pointed at the single-level building close to the back wall. There.

Okay. He came to stand beside her, his right arm brushing her left.

Her skin tingled at the contact as her heart raced. The man took her breath away just by being around her. His presence in her life had reawakened her as a woman.

But I’m hoping you’ll spend more time in here with me than out there. She swallowed and held her breath, her sweaty palm clenched around the leather handle of her tote.

In for a penny, in for a pound. She’d taken a bold step today. Why not take another?

Although they'd shown their attraction to each other, he hadn’t done anything to indicate he wanted to become her lover, or a live-in one at that. He remained restrained in his interactions with her.

There had been the moment in Rebel Studios earlier today when he’d given her an orgasm in the most delicious way. That could have been the result of his frustration at her because he’d found her in Lekan’s room a week ago.

She’d hurt Freddie and, in all honesty, she hadn’t expected him to forgive her readily. He had the right to reject the invitation to her bed.

He turned, leaning his side against the ivory wall. A slow smile curled one corner of his lips. You want me to share your bed?

God, he looked gorgeous when he smiled. Warmth bloomed through her chest, easing some of the tension in her back muscles. Yes. I’d love to have you in my bed, every night if possible.

Another brazen statement.

He reached out and cupped her cheek. She leaned into his touch, relishing his callused palm and the tingles spreading out on her skin.

You know I want you, more than I’ve ever wanted any other woman.

His enticing, raspy voice and arousing, coarse hand coalesced into bolts of desire, melting her core.

But the only way I’m going to make love to you is if you choose me as your Dominant. You are my kitten and that’s the way I want you in bed.

The word ‘dominant’ pitched her ardour into icy water. Her body stiffened and her eyes widened. She didn’t miss the implication of his words. What?

Don’t look so surprised, Kike. I’m a Dom without a sub and you’re a sub in need of a good Dom. I told you already that I want to be your Sir. Did you think I didn’t mean it?

She frowned as her pulse thumped. Yes. No. Oh, I don’t know. She tugged away from him and stepped back. We discussed this and I told you I don’t want a Sir.

She’d been there, done that and had the emotional scars to prove it.

You say you don’t want a Sir. Last weekend proved differently. Otherwise you wouldn’t have ended up in Lekan’s bed after what we shared.

His words cut into her like a knife, reopening the festering guilt. She bowed her head. I told you I was sorry about that. Are you going to keep holding it over my head?

With a heavy heart she walked out of the bedroom as tears burned the back of her eyes. Her vision blurred and she stumbled into the corridor.

A pair of arms gripped her shoulders and pulled her back into a solid chest.

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. His arms wrapped around her body, holding her tight.

Her guilt ramped up and a vice clamped her chest. He remained true and good to her. Why couldn’t she give him what he wanted?

No need to be sorry. You said the truth, she murmured through the lump in her throat.

It might be the truth but I don’t like seeing you upset, he whispered from where his chin rested on her crown.

He’d said a similar thing the day she’d turned up at his apartment after she’d found Lekan getting a blow job from his receptionist.

Her muscles quivered as anger flushed through her. Self-directed annoyance.

She’d put up with crap from Lekan for years. Yet, here stood a decent man and she couldn’t seem to allow him into her life the way he deserved.

You should be upset. She tugged at his arms, trying to pry them away.

Why? He released her.

She swivelled to face him, self-loathing a cancer eating at her mind. You should demand what you want from me. You should take it from me.

He took a step back, eyes narrowed and voice sharp, Have you not listened to anything I said? Your submission is yours to give freely to whomever you choose. I won’t demand it, force it from you or take it without your permission. If I do, it is abuse and rape when sex is involved. I am not Lekan.

He punctuated the last sentence by jabbing his fingers in the air before storming back into the master bedroom.

She pressed her lips together and swallowed several times.

Could Freddie be different from Lekan? Lekan had demanded submission, had taken whatever he’d wanted from her until she didn’t know anything else. Any disobedience incurred punishment.

Freddie wanted the same authority over her. So he hadn’t been cruel to her the night she’d submitted to him at Tolani’s sex party. Then again, Lekan hadn’t always been mean to her.

Staring in Freddie’s direction showed he stood by the window, staring out with his hands shoved into his front pockets.

She was being unfair to him by doing the comparison with her husband. Freddie had shown no falseness. He wore his heart on his sleeve and had remained open with himself even when she’d hurt him. Even as she continued to hurt him.

With slow steps, she approached him and stopped a few inches behind him. He didn’t turn in her direction although he would’ve heard the tap of her heels on the hard flooring.

Not letting the rebuff deter her, she closed the gap and tilted her head forward until it rested on his stiff back. Sucking in a deep breath, his spice filled her nostrils.

You deserve someone better than me, she said in a strangled voice. She couldn’t understand why he continued to desire her. Perhaps he wanted her so he could boast that he’d fucked Kike Ogun. Maybe all this was just sweet talk. "Being with me is only going to screw you