Secrets Behind Closed Doors
Chapter 1
My heart beat drummed deep in my skull, bounding in my thoughts. I sat in only my boxers, my back pressed against the cold stone of my tower walls. Rain pounded against the roof, allowing me to drown myself in my thoughts. My breathing became labored as I imagined myself running through the rain and nearly being caught sneaking back into the castle at the early hours of the morning. It almost didn't seem real until my eyes settled on the pile of wet clothing that sat only feet from me.
Times had been easier when my parents were around. Our kingdom was so full of life and we always welcomed villagers into the castle. As I hit my teenage years, my mother would present me with girls. I was used to being around them, hell I loved spending time with my sister, Laura, but this wasn't fun and games anymore. Being the oldest, I was meant to find a partner first. I don't know how many girls I've met in favor of my mother. I don't know how many girls my parents have allowed to stay the night in my tower. I don't know how many girls I've kissed hungrily until they've passed out with exhaustion. I don't know how many girls I've let please me. But I do know how many girls I've returned the favor to. None.
There wasn't one girl that I ever felt a connection with enough to let my guard down. Even if I may be lying to myself, I never shared a connection with Kate Argent. My parents loved her. Not only was Kate from a royal family, but she was royally beautiful. But my mother had presented me with a lot of very beautiful women, and Kate was no different. She was willing to please me and be given nothing in return. Like every other girl, I just had physical attraction to her, but I tried my hardest to start to let my guard down. My mother loved this girl, and only wanted the best for me, so I figured I would do my best to please her. Then the day came that changed my life forever. Kate and her family were meant to join my family for dinner in the castle. It would be the first time that any of us would meet them. I was in my tower, buttoning my white shirt when I heard Laura scream. I rushed down the stairs in a fit of panic, searching for my sister when I saw smoke coming from the foyer. Servants and guards were rushing about, the castle doors forced closed by large pieces of furniture.
"Derek!" Laura screeched. Her pained cry had come from the stairs that led down to the cellar. Smoke billowed from the cellar staircase, choking me as I began to descend.
"Laura?" I coughed, only making it down twenty stairs before being grabbed from behind. The smoke had blinded me and I was unable to see my captor, but they began dragging me back up the stairs.
"No, I need to help Laura!" I had shouted.
"Shut up, Derek." it was my Uncle Peter. He was whispering and practically carrying me up the stairs, making very minimal sound. Once we reached the foyer, he threw me over his shoulder and carried me back towards my tower. We escaped through a secret door that was hidden at the base of my tower and found refuge in the stables. For the rest of the night I listened to my family's screams and pleas as they died. Kate had betrayed me and my family. She planned to kill us in order to bring her family to power, or so I was told.
That night changed not only my life, but the fate of the kingdom as well. My uncle rose to power and he shut off the village from the castle. Guards were posted at every entrance around the clock and no one was allowed to leave the castle without permission, especially me. Being shut off from the world was something I had grown to accept. It allowed me to mourn the death of my parents and my beloved sister in peace. My uncle and I spoke very little, only seeing each other when we sat at opposite ends of the dining room table for supper. Unlike my mother, he never began presenting me with women. This allowed me the freedom to find my own pleasures and was the first and only time that I've ever returned a sexual favor.
It was with one of our stable hands, Isaac. It had been a usually quiet day around the castle and I ventured down to the stables to busy myself. Little did I know I'd be rolling around in the hay with another man, but it was a turning point for me. It made me realize what I had been missing with all of those girls my mother presented me with. I still remain very much a virgin, but Isaac sure got me close enough to wanting to change that. I never would've thought that kissing another boy would be so breathtaking. Isaac and I never pursued anything after those few hours in the hay, but that moment has brought me to where I am now. Happy, in love, and very wet.
My uncle had banned me from the village and forbid me from ever making contact with anyone outside our castle. It wasn't until the day our butler, Mason, became very ill that he allowed me to venture into the village. Mason was the one who traveled to the village for food and supplies for the castle. His illness had crippled him from being able to do anymore than lay in bed, so my uncle pushed Mason's duties on to me. I had never been so excited to finally be outside the castle. I spent the entire day in the village, exploring the market and different stores. I even took a stroll down one of the streets lined with homes just to see what life was like in my kingdom. No one in the village seemed to recognize me as the prince. I guess it's understandable considering I'd never really been outside the castle grounds before. The absolute highlight of my day was when I visited the bakery. It was quite possibly the coolest little building in the village, its purple roof making it stand out from the rest. The scent of the flowers under the windows pushed my happiness to a new level as I pushed through the front door. The dozens of baskets filled with loaves of bread and even the cases filled with beautifully decorated cakes didn't even catch my eye as abruptly as the absolutely stunning boy behind the counter did. My heart was sent into a havoc as I approached the counter.
"Good Afternoon, can I help you find anything?" he smiled at me, his green eyes melting me almost immediately. Then there was a second heart beat that entered my ears. It was different from my own, but its speed was nearly the same - fast and choppy. I had always known I was different, my senses greater than those around me. My family and I all seemed to share the same gift, but I never understood what it was that made me so special. I know I have frightened girls who pleasured me just by looking at them, but they've never revealed to me why. Even Isaac had a moment of panic as I sank my lips into his bare chest. I had always thought that maybe I was too aggressive when it came to being intimate with others, but the other strange things that happened to me never seemed to add up the same.
"Sir?" the boy spoke again, I wanted to savor his voice, let him speak forever as long as I can be the one he's speaking to.
"Oh, yeah, Hi." I sputtered out. Smooth.
"Can I help you with anything?" he asked again, his eyes becoming concerned. The second heart rate in my ears began to slow as I took a deep breath and reached for the list in my pocket.
"I need a few loaves of bread." I nodded to the list then looked up at the boy. The lines around his eyes became more evident as he smiled at me.
"Well you're in the right place, what kind of bread do you need?" he chuckled lightly. My heart fluttered with his joy, I couldn't believe this boy was getting to me so easily.
"Uh," was all I managed to say. Jesus, Derek! You look like a fucking idiot!
"Wow, I just can't get over your eyes right now." I breathed, my shoulders releasing a weight I hadn't realized was there. I watched as the boy's cheeks began to burn, the heart rate in my ears climbing again.
"I-I, that's so, what did you…Hi, my name's Stiles." he smiled again, outstretching his hand towards me. I gladly allowed my fingers to curl around his hand, the beating in my ears becoming more defined.
"Derek." I smiled back at him. Well being a big, dumb idiot didn't completely humiliate you.
"Stiles is a very unique name." I said as we released our handshake, allowing my fingers to brush against his.
"Thanks." He spoke shyly, looking anywhere but me. "S-so, what kind of bread did you want?" he asked, fiddling with the tie on his apron.
"O-oh, right." I said, clearing my throat. "I don't know, what's your favorite?"
"My favorite?" he asked, his gaze meeting mine.
"Yeah." I smiled, letting one of my hands rub the skin on the back of my neck. Stiles was becoming flustered and I couldn't help but be nervous myself.
"I-I-I don't know, we make so many different kinds." his shaky voice spoke while his eyes continued to search me. It was almost as if he were analyzing me.
"Well surprise me. Pick three different ones and bag them up."
"Oh, okay." Stiles nodded at least five times before he disappeared behind the counter. He came up with a cloth bag and then scurried to the end of the counter, revealing his full stature to me. I watched with a smile permanently plastered on my lips as he walked about the bakery. With his back to me, I began to search his body. His baggy jeans, his plaid flannel that was rolled up just above the elbows, the toned arms that hugged the fabric so nicely. He was covered from head to toe with a light dusting of flour, his backside no different. He was definitely skinnier than me, but far from unhealthy. He was perfect. I never would have thought that his buzzed hair would have intrigued me just as much as the rest of him. After the incredible feeling of running my hands through Isaac's hair, I would've thought that short hair would be a turn off for me. That buzzed head made my mind drift. I was picturing myself rubbing my cheek against his prickly, yet soft hair while his mouth did things to my neck that I can't even describe. I had it bad for this kid, and I needed to get out of here before the friend in my pants made himself known.
"Alright, here's three of our most popular breads and an extra one that I have taken a liking to lately." Stiles spoke, pulling me out of my trance. He was behind the counter again, one hand atop the bag of bread and the other resting against his hip. "Can I get you anything else?"
"Can you promise me that I'll see you again?" I asked, my heart in my throat as I rested my hand atop the bag of bread, mere millimeters from his fingers.
"Hi there!" came a woman's voice, making me tear my gaze from Stiles' piercing eyes. I looked to the woman who had emerged from a swinging door behind Stiles. She was coated in a thicker layer of flour, her hands buried in knots within her apron as she tried to wipe them off. "How are you today?"
"I'm wonderful Ma'am, I'm new in town and this fine man here was just helping me with some bread." I smiled at her, glancing at Stiles before removing my hand from the bag and stuffing it in my pocket. The woman's brows knitted together and her hands were abruptly placed against her hips.
"New in town? I swear I've seen you before." she said, approaching the counter.
"No Ma'am, I don't believe I've ever been here before."
"Well you must have, I can honestly say I've seen you. What's your name, darling?"
"Mom, stop bothering him." Stiles spoke up, his eyes wild. "He just came in for some bread, you should probably stop talking if you ever want him to come back!"
"Oh don't worry about it, my name is Derek." I smiled, offering a hand to the woman.
"Mrs. Stilinski," she nodded, shaking my hand. "This is my bakery."
"Well you have a very nice place here, I will definitely be coming back."
"I'm glad to hear that." she smiled halfheartedly. I could tell she was still skeptical of me.
"Okay, Mom, thank you for scaring our customer." Stiles said, stress forming in his forehead.
"Alright, alright, back to the kitchen. It was nice to meet you, Derek." she said, gently shoving Stiles before sending me a wave of her hand.
"You as well, Mrs. Stilinski." I waved back. I followed Stiles gaze as he waited for his mother to return to the kitchen. As the door swung behind her Stiles turned to me with a sigh.
"Oh common, it wasn't that bad." I laughed, pulling the bag of bread from the counter and tucking it under my arm.
"She's so embarrassing." he said, looking down.
"Well hey, at least now I know you want to see me again." I smirked, watching closely as he smiled to himself before connecting his gaze with mine again.