MasukShare
Chapter 11
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-11-28 10:30:00Matthew stepped into the little guesthouse room, instantly filling the cramped space with his presence. He glanced around, taking in the outdated decor and the overwhelming sense of forced charm. The lace curtains, the floral wallpaper-it was like stepping into a time capsule, and not in a nostalgic way.
"Well," he muttered under his breath, "this is... cozy."
Turning toward the bed, Matthew felt a laugh bubble up in his chest. It was a single bed. Barely large enough for one person, let alone two grown men.
But what really stood out, what really caught Matthew's eye, was Masahiro, standing frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, a look of genuine horror written across his face.
"Are you kidding me?" Masahiro muttered, his gaze darting from the bed to the window to the walls. His hand rubbed at his forehead as if trying to make sense of the situation. "This… this can't be it."
Matthew didn't say anything. He merely walked across the room, his backpack ki
Bab terkait
Gold & Sand Chapter 12
Matthew stood in front of the mirror in their guesthouse room, fixing his suit. The black jacket fit just right over his lean body, while his white shirt and skinny tie completed the look. He glanced over at Masahiro, who was standing by the window, arms crossed, watching the street below with his usual air of quiet intensity.“How do I look?" Matthew asked, spinning slightly, giving his reflection one last look.Masahiro turned his head just enough to glance at him, his expression flat. "Like you're about to charm the pants off someone... or get arrested again."Matthew smirked, tugging his jacket into place. "Ha ha, very funny. You should write that down, your fans will love it.”Masahiro grunted in response, turning back to the window. He shifted slightly when a faint scratching noise came from behind him. His nose wrinkled, and he shot the source a quick glance, the stray cat lounging near the bed, cleaning its paw like it owned the place.Matthew noticed and grinned. “Don’t tell
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29Gold & Sand Chapter 13
Masahiro muttered under his breath, his mind still coming to blows with the evening's happenings as he buckled his trousers. "Ridiculous," he grumbled. "All that chaos, for what?" The tone was cutting, but his words were for himself rather than for her.Matthew wore up to his boxers nonchalantly, stretched his arms, and plopped onto the bed with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, loosen up, Payne," he teased, reaching for his discarded trousers.Masahiro, now buttoning his shirt with deliberate frustration, turned his attention to Matthew. "What did you do to, to have two armed thugs on your tail?" His voice was clipped, though the edges of exasperation were softening.Matthew lolled back lazily, digging into his trouser pocket and pulling out the wallet he'd swiped at the bar. With a triumphant smirk, he held it aloft. "This," he announced, clearly reveling in his victory.Masahiro froze mid-button, staring at the wallet like it was radioactive. "We got chased be
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29Gold & Sand Chapter 14
Masahiro awoke sluggishly, the morning sun creeping through the cracked window to warm him. His body felt oddly comfortable, not just from the sheets beneath him but from the weight resting on his chest. Blinking against the haze of sleep, he looked down, his heart skipping a beat as he realized who it was.Matthew's head was tucked against his chest, the rise and fall of his breathing a rhythm Masahiro had somehow managed to recognize. He couldn't deny the heat building between them, but it wasn't just Matthew's proximity that had him stirring. It was the sudden, undeniable pressure in his own pants.Masahiro froze, his body going rigid as his brain struggled to play catch-up.´Shit, ´ he thought.The groggy noise he made was the first warning Matthew gave before his head shifted slightly. "Morning, Detective," Matthew's voice was low, raspy, still thick with sleep as he raised his head to peer up at Masahiro with half-lidded eyes. "I didn't know you were ´this´ comfortable with me."
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-30Gold & Sand Chapter 15
Matthew was cradling the cat in his arms, its fur soft against his chest, as he stood by the door, waiting for Masahiro to finish the checkout.His eyes stayed on Masahiro, who was still up front at the desk. He watched the way Masahiro's fingers tapped lightly on the counter, a gesture so light it might have passed anyone else by. But Matthew noticed. Just as he always noticed the tight line of Masahiro's jaw when he was frustrated, or the almost imperceptible lift of his brow when he was amused.He shifted the cat in his arms, nuzzling his chin into its soft fur, and smiled to himself. Masahiro looked so composed, so thoroughly in command, but Matthew knew where the hairline fissures were in that mask. He wasn't so certain why he enjoyed picking at him, but there was something about Masahiro's infrequent moments of fragility that felt like success.It wasn't until Masahiro finally turned toward him, suitcase in tow, that Matthew didn't bother to hide his grin. He raised an eyebrow;
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-02Gold & Sand Chapter 16
It was the second night at the Tower.Masahiro adjusted his tie, taut against his neck, as he oversaw the crowd, his eyes narrowing to calculated precision. An act, a glance-they were all carefully measured, as though the weight of their investigation weighed upon every step he made.Beside him, Matthew strolled with his usual careless confidence, hands casually tucked into his pockets as though the bar were his personal domain. Masahiro couldn't help the slight clench in his jaw as Matthew's nonchalance grated against his carefully honed focus."Relax, Detective," Matthew teased, flashing that signature smirk, the one that never failed to irk him. "You look like you’re about to shut the place down."Masahiro shot him a quick glance, his tone terse. "Stay focused. We’re not here to make friends."Matthew laughed, the sound light and carefree, but with a glint of something more dangerous beneath it. "I’m focused. Don’t worry about me."Inside, the bar had lost none of its usual chaos.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-03Gold & Sand Chapter 17
The music swelled, and Matthew executed a final, deliberate grind, his chest just brushing against Masahiro's as he leaned down, his lips hovering by his ear."Bet you didn't think I'd be this good," Matthew whispered, his tone playful.Masahiro let out a soft huff of amusement, his expression softening just slightly. "Not exactly what I expected from a petty criminal.”Masahiro tried to maintain the professionalism between them, but he could not avoid the feeling that every step Matthew took was meant to drive him crazy. Matthew's hips arced with the rhythm of the song; his body moved in just the right beat, and Masahiro found himself looking how his partner's sensuality swallowed the space around him. The crowd cheered loudly, egging Matthew on, but this time, Matthew was performing for him, Masahiro.With a confident smirk, Matthew sauntered closer to Masahiro, who sat stiffly in the chair, still fighting the attraction he was feeling, despite how much he wanted to remain composed.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-03Gold & Sand Chapter 18
Cassidy was as striking as ever: tall, white, handsome, brown hair cascading down his neck. Light green eyes that were always filled with mischief seemed to sparkle, and the tattoos running across his arms and up his neck did nothing to dispel the aura of danger that he always seemed to project.Matthew's hand tightened on his drink; the knuckles white. The presence of Cassidy still lingered in the air, thick and oppressive. He felt branded somehow, as he always did around Cassidy.Matthew's breath caught as the memory surfaced unbidden, the image of him sitting on Cassidy's lap flickering in his mind. They were perched on the edge of a rooftop one evening, the city sprawling beneath them in a sea of lights. Cassidy had his arms around him, pulling him close as they shared a cigar. The air was thick with smoke, the flickering light from the streetlamps below casting shadows over Cassidy's face.“You're mine, you know that, right?" Cassidy's voice had been low, a command wrapped in som
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-04Gold & Sand Chapter 19
The beer bottles on the table formed a neat little graveyard, each one marking another step into Matthew’s unraveling night. Masahiro was sitting beside him, arms crossed, his piercing gaze locked on the man before him. He wasn’t drinking, wasn’t even pretending to enjoy himself. Instead, he was watching Matthew with an expression that hovered somewhere between anger and disdain. “You’re a mess,” Masahiro finally said, his voice clipped. “You lost focus, and now we’re wasting time.”Matthew chuckled, low and humorless, tipping his beer bottle toward Masahiro in mock salute. “Relax, Detective. Cassidy’s spilling his guts tomorrow. Mission accomplished.” “That’s not the point.” Masahiro’s voice dropped, cold and sharp. “You’re reckless, and you’re dragging me down with you. You don’t care about anything except whatever feels good in the moment.” Matthew turned in his seat, leaning lazily on the table as he regarded Masahiro with a crooked grin. “You make it sound like such a bad thin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-04
Bab terbaru
Gold & Sand Chapter 275
The apartment door clicked shut behind them.Clark dropped his coat on the entryway bench with an exaggerated sigh and muttered, “I am emotionally exhausted. And not in a sexy, Victorian-tragedy kind of way. I mean in the ‘my feet hurt and my soul’s tired’ kind of way.”Adam, already heading for the kitchen, tossed back, “Then take your heels off, sweetheart.”Clark gave him a long, dry look. “They are Italian leather Oxfords. But yes, thank you, masculine voice of reason.”Adam opened the fridge, grabbed leftover rice, and dumped it unceremoniously into a pan. A beat passed, then the stove clicked to life. Clark wandered in behind him, slower, more graceful, toeing off his shoes like someone doing a product demo.“You’re cooking,” Clark said with a soft note of surprise.“I’m heating shit up.”“For you or for both of us?”Adam didn’t look up. “Depends. You gonna whine the whole time?”Clark leaned against the counter, resting his chin in his hand. “Maybe. Depends. Are you going to be
Gold & Sand Chapter 274
The apartment door shut behind them with a soft click. Masahiro shrugged off his coat and hung it by the door with mechanical efficiency. Matthew kicked his boots off lazily and dropped his keys into the bowl by the counter, same routine as always.Masahiro passed him in the hallway, unbothered. "I’m showering."Matthew nodded, grabbed a soda from the fridge, cracked it open. Silence stretched while the water started running. When Masahiro emerged ten minutes later, hair damp and towel slung around his neck, Matthew was still at the counter, drinking slowly.“We gonna talk about it?” Matthew asked without looking up.Masahiro paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “About what.”“Yumi.” Matthew turned now. Arms folded. Voice calm, but not playful. “How she thinks I sleep in your guest room because of some old undercover job we did. And you let her think that. Still.”Masahiro dried his hands with the towel, avoiding his eyes. “It’s easier.”“Easier for who?”Masahiro didn’t answer.Matthew
Gold & Sand Chapter 273
The restaurant doors swung shut behind them, sealing in the scent of roasted garlic and expensive regret. The parking lot buzzed with leftover heat from the day, a few stray voices in the distance, heels clicking on pavement.Clark walked ahead with Masahiro, steps crisp, back straight, his fingers adjusting his sleeves as if court decorum extended into the streets. Masahiro matched his pace effortlessly—hands tucked into his coat pockets, eyes cold and precise as always."So," Masahiro said without looking at him, "how do you see the trial ending?"Clark didn’t hesitate. "Nathaniel will walk. Probably with a statement read by a trembling clerk and a jury that wants to forget the word 'testimony' for the rest of their lives."Masahiro gave a slow nod. "You're confident.""I'm always confident," Clark replied, the corner of his mouth twitching. "The difference is whether I admit it out loud."Masahiro’s eyes flicked to him, a hint of dry amusement. "You just did."Clark adjusted his gl
Gold & Sand Chapter 272
Matthew didn’t wait for an invitation—just dropped into the chair across from Clark like he owned it.Masahiro sat beside him with all the enthusiasm of a man attending a funeral, pulling out his phone before the chair even touched the floor.Matthew grinned, eyes on Clark. “You two are cute. The bodyguard act? Adorable. But let’s not pretend you’re not fucking like a side plot to a very illegal soap opera.”Clark, unbothered, lifted his wineglass with practiced elegance. “And you’re talking like a man who’s only slept with criminals and delusions.”Matthew’s grin widened. “Facts.”Adam didn’t look up. Just kept eating his burger like nothing in the room concerned him.“Adam’s real quiet today,” Matthew added, leaning his chin on his palm. “All those hickeys drain your vocabulary?”Clark sliced a piece of venison with clean, silent precision. “Some of us have class. Others… wear too much cologne and overshare.”Masahiro didn’t even glance up. “Don’t e
Gold & Sand Chapter 271
The trial day had ended with the defense soaring and the prosecution bleeding.Masahiro, Arthur, and Matthew stood in the hallway, a loose cluster of tension and exhaustion. Arthur clutched a half-empty water bottle, his fingers still shaking from the witness stand. Masahiro stood tall and unreadable, as always.Matthew looked like he’d just come out of a concert—buzzing, amused, and entirely too observant.Clark approached with that predator-still-in-courtroom calm, suit untouched, expression cool. Adam was behind him, one step back, hands in his pockets, saying nothing—like always.“Hell of a show,” Matthew said as Clark joined them. “You made that prosecutor look like she was reciting a grocery list under threat.”Clark only lifted a brow. “She wasn’t worth more than that.”Masahiro gave a nod. “Strong performance.”Arthur murmured, “Nathaniel might actually walk…”Clark nodded slightly. “Let’s not jinx it.”They stood there for a beat.The
Gold & Sand Chapter 270
The door shut behind them with a soft, echoing click.Clark didn’t speak. Neither did Nathaniel.For a long moment, they just stood there in the defense room—alone, away from the murmuring gallery and the jury’s blank stares.Clark finally moved.He set his notes down on the table, reached up, and took off his glasses. Not dramatically. Just… tired.His fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose like he could squeeze the tension out through his skull.Nathaniel watched him.Still in his seat. Back straight. Calm in the way someone learns from spending time around chaos.“You didn’t have to say all that,” Nathaniel said quietly.Clark dropped his hand. Didn’t look at him yet. “Yeah, well. I did.”“You made me sound like a hero.”Clark finally glanced up. The fatigue didn’t soften his tone. “No. I made you sound like a man who didn’t fire a gun.”Nathaniel gave a small, humorless laugh. “Still a lie.”Clark sat down slowly across from
Gold & Sand Chapter 269
The courtroom felt colder.Not physically—just… off.Like every breath Clark took was being measured in decibels.Like the walls were closer.The gallery buzzed with quiet anticipation—reporters in tailored neutral, pens ready to cut. Matthew sat on the far end, half-scowling. Arthur hovered near Masahiro, face unreadable.Nathaniel sat beside Clark—still, calm, like he didn’t feel the pressure digging into the back of his spine.And Clark?Perfect.Tie sharp. Glasses gleaming. Posture textbook.Only Adam saw the truth.His tie was straight, but his breath was shallow. That wasn’t confidence. That was survival.Adam watched from the last bench, arms folded.Motionless. But primed.At the front of the courtroom, Diana Halvorsen stood like she’d built the place.Flawless blonde hair, heels like blades, voice clear as verdicts.She turned to the jury with clinical poise.“Let’s talk about narrative.”“You want to paint Bishop as a savior’s assistant?” she asked, voice smooth. “Then tell
Gold & Sand Chapter 268
Arthur sat at his desk, staring at the clock.3:59 PM.He shifted in his chair. Cleared his throat. Glanced at the file in front of him, then at Masahiro—just across the room, seated, silent, flipping through a thick report with surgical focus.Arthur hesitated.Then looked again.Masahiro didn’t look up. Not immediately. Just turned another page with that same eerie calm.Then, without raising his voice or his head, he said, “I know exactly what you want.”Arthur straightened. “I—uh—what?”Masahiro looked at him now. Direct. Sharp. “You want to visit Cassidy.”Arthur’s ears burned. “Sir, I was going to—”“You’re allowed,” Masahiro interrupted. “Go.”Arthur blinked. “Really?”Masahiro returned to his file. “You’ll be back before shift ends.”Arthur nodded quickly, standing. “Yes. Thank you, sir.”Masahiro said nothing more.Arthur cleaned his desk—neatly, as always—then grabbed his coat and bag. He moved quickly but tried n
Gold & Sand Chapter 267
Adam got up from the couch and tugged the curtain back.Clark was outside on the balcony, sitting on the tile floor like it wasn’t cold, wearing nothing but Adam’s hoodie. Legs bare. Hair a mess. Staring at the skyline like it had wronged him.Adam slid the glass door open. Leaned against the frame.“You really gonna sit out there half-naked like a damn raccoon in a hoodie?”Clark didn’t look over. “What do you care?”“I don’t.” Adam stepped out. “Just don’t want to explain to Masahiro why you froze your ass off in my perimeter.”Clark exhaled through his nose. “I’m not cold.”“You’re barefoot on stone, dumbass.”Clark muttered, “I’m not here for a fashion lecture.”Adam didn’t rise to it. Just crouched beside him, arms on his knees, voice low. Calm. But with that steel under it.“You need a signal.”Clark blinked. “What?”“In public. Court. Crowd. Whatever. You’re too proud to say ‘help.’ So don’t. Just tap.”Clark stared at him.
