The Soldati General (Soldati Hearts Book 3) Read online

  With an almost timid smile, Segreti entered the room. “I would never assume you’d want me to.”

  After placing the books ever so carefully on the small wooden table by his favorite chair, he left them and went to the chamber door to close it, then stepped in front of Segreti.

  “Are you having second thoughts regarding our mating?”

  “Never.”

  “Then you are welcome to go where I go. The king’s private meetings are the only exception.”

  “Understandable. I know we haven’t discussed much of the practicalities yet. I confess, I’m not very good with this sort of thing.”

  “Neither am I.” Ezra stepped closer, drawn to Segreti’s warmth like a hummingbird to nectar. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?”

  Segreti chuckled. “That we are.” He looked around the chamber before his gaze once again landed on Ezra. “Would it sound silly if I said I missed your company this morning?”

  “No.” Ezra placed his hands on Segreti’s chest. “I confess I struggled to keep my mind from wandering to thoughts of you while I investigated the festival grounds this morning, and more than once. The Eye was most vexed.” He lifted his gaze to Segreti’s. “Please kiss me.”

  “I thought you would never ask.” Segreti drew Ezra into his strong arms, kissing him as he’d never been kissed before. The hunger and heat that radiated off Segreti was a heady thing, and Ezra threw his arms around Segreti’s neck, his mouth and tongue demanding more from his new mate.

  Where had this sudden boldness come from? The urge to see and feel Segreti’s naked form became as imperative as breathing. The more Segreti kissed him, the more Ezra desired. His body thrummed with need in a way he’d never believed himself capable of. He’d found other Soldati attractive, but he’d never experienced this feral desire for them. He made quick work of unfastening Segreti’s belt and dropping it to the floor before hastily pulling at his tunic. Segreti removed it the rest of the way, discarding it near his belt as Ezra scurried to do the same with his own belt and tunic. Ezra led Segreti to the bed, where Segreti sat on its edge. When Ezra reached for the hem of Segreti’s shirt, Segreti stilled his hands.

  “It’s not necessary,” Segreti said, his eye lowered.

  “There is no need for fear,” Ezra murmured softly as he caressed Segreti’s cheek. “No part of you inspires anything less than a sense of wonder and desire to worship.”

  Segreti lifted his gaze, searching Ezra’s. “I often find myself wondering what to do with your kind words.”

  “Hold them close and believe in their truth.”

  With a nod, Segreti released Ezra’s hands. He sat exceptionally rigid as Ezra divested him of his shirt and dropped it to the floor.

  “You are magnificent.” Ezra traced a finger down from Segreti’s thick neck to his muscular chest, a thrill going through him when his nail scraped against Segreti’s nipple, making his large body shudder. Wishing nothing more than to bring Segreti pleasure, Ezra trailed kisses down Segreti’s chest, stopping to tongue one of the sensitive buds. He shivered at Segreti’s deep moan and loved the feel of his large hand placed ever so gently on the back of Ezra’s head.

  Needing to hear more sounds of pleasure from Segreti, Ezra licked and sucked at the pebbled bud before lavishing attention on the other one. He teased and taunted Segreti’s nipples with his tongue, his finger slipping into the silky curls on his muscled chest before he continued to trail kisses over the hard ridges of muscle. He knelt and took hold of Segreti’s trousers.

  “Lift up,” Ezra commanded gently.

  Segreti lifted himself, allowing Ezra to remove his trousers and set his beautiful length free. Ezra had been too lost in his lust during their encounter in the cottage to admire Segreti’s large shaft. His mouth watered, and he ran a thumb over the leaking rosy tip. He might not have much experience, but he knew what he liked—and was also a quick learner. Every hitch of breath, every gasp to leave Segreti’s lips, Ezra stored away, learning what made Segreti writhe with need.

  Taking hold of the thick base, Ezra brought the tip to his mouth and licked at the pearly drop, loving the way Segreti jumped. Overtaken by desire and boldness, Ezra swallowed Segreti.

  “Goddess above!”

  Ezra moaned in delight. He moved slowly at first, up toward the tip before taking more and more of Segreti’s delicious length. With every groan Segreti released, Ezra grew even more painfully hard. He bobbed his head, alternating between sucking, licking, and nipping at Segreti’s sensitive flesh until Segreti placed a hand to his cheek.

  “Easy, my sweet. I fear any more and I’ll spill myself too soon.”

  “I want to feel and taste every inch of you,” Ezra admitted. He lifted his gaze to Segreti’s, and Segreti stared back, his pupil blown. “Will you let me?”

  “I will gladly surrender to your every whim.”

  Ezra smiled and kissed Segreti, his heart feeling as though it was too big for his chest. He climbed onto the bed and knelt behind Segreti. Tears threatened to spill, but he refused to allow that bastard into this room with them. Instead, he resolved to create new memories for Segreti. He brushed his lips over one particularly painful-looking scar before delivering a tender kiss. With a gentle touch, he caressed Segreti’s back, running his fingers along the raised skin as he rained kisses across his broad shoulders. He took his time, kissing each and every mark. There were many. Segreti’s entire back was covered in scars, some long and angry, others smaller and faded. Not one inch of his skin remained unscarred.

  “You are magnificent, my champion.”

  Segreti stood, and Ezra sat back on his heels, worried he might have offended Segreti in some manner. He cocked his head to one side in question.

  “Forgive me, but I’m close to losing what sanity I have left.” Segreti placed his hands on the bed and leaned in, his lips so close to Ezra’s he could feel Segreti’s warm breath.

  “What do you desire most?” Ezra asked, brushing his lips over Segreti’s.

  “To be inside you, feel your tight heat around my length. To have you ride me.”

  Ezra ran his tongue over his bottom lip and nodded fervently. “I would very much like that.” Segreti joined him on the bed, and Ezra pointed to the nightstand. “Oils.”

  Quickly reaching into the drawer, Segreti removed the small glass bottle. He placed it on the nightstand before removing his boots and trousers, then stood gloriously naked before Ezra.

  “You truly desire me?” Segreti asked, his voice hoarse and filled with need.

  Ezra pushed his trousers down to his thighs, revealing his hard, leaking cock. “Simply the thought of you, of your touch, your mouth, your shaft, makes me this painfully hard. Should it take me a lifetime to show you and have you believe it is so, I’ll happily oblige.” Ezra held his hand out, and Segreti returned to his side. He helped relieve Ezra of what clothes remained then ran his hands over Ezra almost reverently.

  “Forgive me. It’s not that I distrust your words, but when faced with such youth and beauty, I struggle to understand what you see in an old battle-scarred soldier.”

  Ezra pulled Segreti down onto the bed and straddled his lap. He leaned in and smiled wickedly as he kissed Segreti. “Then allow me to show you.” He sat back and gave Segreti a pointed look. “Besides, you’re not that much older.”

  “I certainly feel it at times.”

  “Well, allow me to help you gain back some of that lost… virility.” Ezra took Segreti’s finger, slipped it into his mouth and whirled his tongue around it before guiding it to his passage, instructing Segreti to prepare his entrance. Leaning forward, he palmed one cheek, spreading himself for Segreti and receiving a deep groan for his efforts. Gently, Segreti pushed a thick finger against his entrance, and Ezra moaned. He slipped his fingers into Segreti’s long hair, holding on tight as Segreti pushed his finger down to the knuckle before slowly retreating. He repeated the move, slow at first, then a little quicker. Soon a second finger joined in
, and with every small thrust, Ezra grew more desperate to feel Segreti’s hard shaft inside him.

  After removing his fingers, Segreti reached for the glass bottle and handed it to Ezra. Quickly, but mindful not to spill the liquid, Ezra poured some into his hand before giving the bottle back to Segreti. He palmed Segreti’s cock and slowly stroked him, loving the deep rolling groan Segreti released, his head thrown back against the pillow as Ezra quickened his strokes.

  “Ezra,” Segreti pleaded roughly.

  Unable to take any more, Ezra positioned himself over Segreti’s flat stomach and lined the tip to his entrance. Slowly, he pushed back, lowered himself onto Segreti’s engorged shaft, closing his eyes as he breathed deep. A sharp burn had him biting down on his bottom lip as his entrance struggled against the intrusion before gradually yielding, enveloping Segreti. Ezra opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Segreti’s. A grin formed on Ezra’s lips as he sat fully against Segreti.

  “So full,” Ezra said, awe in his tone. He hadn’t expected it. Gingerly, he tried moving, rocking back and forth. “Oh,” he groaned. “I like that.”

  “As do I,” Segreti replied with a soft chuckle. He took hold of Ezra’s backside, spreading his cheeks and drawing him up and back again.

  “Oh!” Ezra liked that even more. He rose leisurely before dropping onto Segreti, surprising a gasp out of himself and a curse from Segreti. That was absolutely sinful!

  “You have a mischievous look about you.”

  “Well, my fierce warrior, I plan to make it so you never question my desire for you.”

  Segreti threw his head back and laughed. When he met Ezra’s gaze, his eyes were filled with passion and tenderness. “I’m eager for this lesson,” Segreti replied as he stroked Ezra.

  “Take me in hand,” Ezra commanded breathlessly.

  Segreti poured some oil into his hand, then palmed Ezra’s hard cock. He stroked Ezra, making him feel as though he’d go mad from the pleasure. He rose and impaled himself on Segreti’s iron rod over and over until he couldn’t distinguish Segreti’s heartbeat from his own. All the while, Segreti pumped Ezra’s shaft, and as Ezra began to lose his pace, so did Segreti. Ezra dug his fingers into Segreti’s shoulders, riding him madly, the sweat trickling down his brow and neck. His skin was too tight for his body.

  Leaning forward, Ezra brought their lips together, a shiver wracking his body as Segreti released Ezra’s shaft and spread his cheeks once more to lift up, pounding into him over and over while Ezra pumped his cock.

  “Ezra,” Segreti roared, his hips bucking as he continued to thrust into Ezra, their bodies finding the perfect rhythm together. Segreti changed his angle, hitting some part of Ezra that had him all but bursting at the seams.

  “Segreti… I can’t… please.” Ezra felt as if his body were about to come apart. Segreti continued to hit that sweet spot, his thick shaft driving inside him, their bodies smacking together and the bed moving beneath them. Ezra dug his fingers into Segreti’s shoulders.

  “I’m going to spill myself inside you,” Segreti warned.

  “Yes, please. I want all of you.” Ezra had never been more certain of anything in his life. He wanted Segreti, all of him, for however long Segreti wished Ezra to have him. Just when he thought he couldn’t take any more pleasure, Segreti roared with his release, liquid heat filling Ezra and sending him tumbling over the edge. He shouted Segreti’s name, the light from his Soldati soul erupting from him and filling the room as he spilled himself over his hand and Segreti’s chest. He rode madly until the explosive heat and light faded, leaving him spent and exhausted to collapse on Segreti’s chest, uncaring of the sticky wetness beneath him.

  A contented sigh escaped Ezra, and he snuggled close, loving the much larger body beneath his, the weight of Segreti’s arm wrapped around his waist as Segreti caressed him. Was this what it was like to have a mate? One who held your heart with theirs? No wonder Riley looked upon Khalon as if he hung the moon. Ezra could easily lose his heart to Segreti. A part of him believed he’d already lost pieces of it to his strong and noble warrior.

  “How are you feeling?” Segreti asked tentatively.

  Ezra hummed in satisfaction. “I can’t recall a time when I felt more at peace than at this moment.” A thought occurred to him, and he bolted upright.

  “What is it?”

  “You didn’t claim me.” Ezra couldn’t help the concern in his voice. They’d discussed how Segreti had to be the one to claim Ezra, and Segreti had happily accepted. He hadn’t been the least put off by the mention of Ezra’s powers being a threat.

  Segreti brushed Ezra’s hair away from his face. “The time wasn’t right, my sweet.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’ve disappointed you.”

  Ezra shook his head. “You could never disappoint me.” He leaned forward, his chin resting on his hand as he ran a finger over Segreti’s jaw. “I am puzzled, though, as to why your inner bear still feels unready to claim its mate.”

  Segreti took hold of Ezra’s hand and kissed the tips of his fingers. “All will be revealed in time, I’m certain. Do you regret what we’ve done?”

  “I have no misgivings in my heart where you’re concerned.”

  “I’m happy to hear that.” Segreti kissed the top of his head, and Ezra begrudgingly removed himself from Segreti. He smiled against Segreti’s lips.

  “Stay right there. I’m simply going to get a washcloth so we don’t stick together. As much as I’d like to have you at my side at all hours, at some point, I suspect, one of us will need to use the facilities.”

  Segreti chuckled, and Ezra forced himself away long enough to enter his washroom and clean himself up. He dampened a clean cloth and delivered it to Segreti with a kiss, then climbed onto the bed next to him. His heart danced with delight as he kissed his way down Segreti’s jaw and combed his fingers through his untamable mane.

  Ezra had been about to tease Segreti about being ready for another bout of sensual activity when a chill engulfed him and he gasped, the world going bright around him.

  No, please. Not now.

  The power of the Eye pulsed through Ezra, throwing him into a vision. He stared up at Segreti, who stood tall in the moonlight, but he wasn’t Ezra’s Segreti. His lips curled in a snarl, anger filling his dark eye as shadows enveloped his handsome features. He swung back his arm, a sword in his hand, but Ezra no longer stood in the path of the weapon intent on murder. Instead, another figure took his place. Segreti swung his sword and sliced a deadly blow, blood spraying his clothes. He loomed over the fallen figure, and Ezra lurched forward, his heart lodged in his throat and tears in his eyes as an agonized wail tore from him.

  Khalon lay dead.

  Chapter Eight

  “Ezra? Love? What’s wrong?”

  Ezra’s eyes flew open, and he lifted a trembling hand to his lips as he shook his head. No. He refused to believe it. The Eye was wrong. It had to be. Tears welled in his eyes, the scene replaying in his head. Perhaps he’d drifted off and had a nightmare. A terrifying, heartbreaking nightmare. He scrambled out of bed and grabbed his trousers and tunic. Segreti quickly did the same.

  “The Eye.” Recognition seemed to dawn on Segreti. “You had a vision.”

  Ezra nodded. The Eye, which had at some point entered the room and been dormant, resting on its velvet pillow, pulsed with golden light. It lifted off the pillow and hovered near Ezra.

  “Please,” Ezra begged of it.

  “Can you tell me?” Segreti asked softly. “You needn’t carry this burden yourself. Not anymore. Let me help you.”

  How could Segreti help when he was the cause of the vision? “For the first time in my life, I’m at a loss of what to do.” Ezra knew what he was supposed to do, what his mind demanded he do, but his heart declared war against him. The love in his heart overflowed for both his king and now… Segreti. How was this possible? How could he have lost his heart to Segreti so quickly? They weren’t fated to be together, not like Khalon an
d Riley. He shouldn’t feel so strongly, and now…

  Ezra glared at the Eye. “How can you be so cruel?” The Eye itself had brought Segreti to Ezra over and over. Why would you bring him to me only to rip him from my life?

  “That terrible?”

  “Yes,” Ezra whispered, unable to stop the tear from rolling down his cheek. “I am torn.”

  “Between?”

  Ezra lifted his gaze to meet Segreti’s. “My duty and my love.”

  Segreti sucked in a sharp breath. He closed his eye and hung his head. When he opened his eye, he lifted his gaze to Ezra’s, his smile breaking what remained of Ezra’s heart. He took Ezra’s hand in his and kissed his palm.

  “Words I never believed I’d hear from another, much less someone as beautiful and enchanting as you. I wish I could have spared you the pain to your heart. Never had I expected to lose mine.”

  “Segreti…”

  “I won’t be the reason your heart breaks.”

  “You already are.”

  Segreti looked puzzled.

  “Please forgive me.” He placed his hand to Segreti’s cheek. “We’ll see each other through this.”

  “Ezra?”

  Ezra drew on his Soldati power and sent the Eye to Khalon. Within seconds, Soldati flooded his bedchamber, followed by Riley and Khalon, both in their evening robes. Adira, Rayner, and Toka appeared soon after.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Segreti demanded. He turned to Ezra. “Ezra?”

  “The Soldati Eye has shown me a new vision of Khalon’s death.” Ezra wrapped his arms around himself in a feeble attempt at comfort. “At your hands.”

  “No.” Segreti shook his head. “I would never harm Khalon, or anyone.”

  Ezra took hold of Segreti’s hands. “I couldn’t keep my vision from my king. Had I wanted to, the Eye wouldn’t allow it. Please forgive me.”

  “The Eye is never wrong,” Khalon replied, his voice laced with hurt and regret. “I’m afraid I have no choice, my old friend.” He closed his eyes and turned to embrace his prince. “Arrest Segreti. Take him to the cells.”