LOGINShare
Chapter 139
Last Updated:
2025-01-31 20:30:07Matthew had just finished his shower when his phone buzzed from the bedside table. He grabbed it, still wrapped in a towel, and saw a message from Masahiro.
Masahiro: Hey babe, I'll be a bit late, coming at 11 pm.
Matthew smiled, his heart fluttering at the familiar tone. He quickly typed back.
Matthew: Alrighty, clingy detective. I'll head home and wait for you.
He hit send, tossing the phone aside. A warm feeling spread over him as he moved to get dressed. It was just another night with Masahiro, one of their many quiet, intimate evenings.
Matthew smiled to himself as he slipped into his sweater, the fabric warm against his skin. He couldn’t help but think of Masahiro… his strong, reassuring presence, the way his eyes always seemed to soften when they locked onto each other. Tonight, they’d unwind together after their busy days. Just the two of them, like always.
Before he finished getting dressed, Matthew grabbed his ph
Related chapters
Gold & Sand Chapter 140
Masahiro’s head pounded as he stirred awake. His body felt strangely heavy, and a dull ache throbbed behind his eyes. He blinked, the dim glow of the room slowly coming into focus.Something was wrong.The scent of alcohol, and something unfamiliar clung to the air. The sheets beneath him felt tangled, foreign, and—Then he saw him.Matthew.Standing in the middle of the room, eyes dark, wild, full of something Masahiro had never seen before.Masahiro pushed himself upright, his body sluggish. His movement caused the weight beside him to shift, and then… he froze.A stranger was in his bed. A naked stranger.Masahiro’s entire body went rigid. His mind raced, but it was blank at the same time. He didn’t understand. He had been at El Paradiso. He had been waiting for Matthew. And then… what?"What the hell is this?" Masahiro’s voice
Last Updated : 2025-02-02Gold & Sand Chapter 141
Masahiro's head throbbed as he struggled to piece together the fragments of his memory. The last thing he remembered was sitting at the bar in El Paradiso, waiting for Matthew. He had taken a sip of whiskey—one he hadn’t even ordered. Then… nothing. A complete blackout.Now, he was in his bed, naked, with a stranger standing at the foot of the room, already pulling on his clothes. His stomach twisted in disgust.Masahiro turned his head sharply, his eyes locking onto the man. His voice was cold, sharp as a blade. "Who the hell are you?"The man, startled but attempting to play it off, smirked slightly as he buttoned his shirt. "Don't you remember? We were drinking together." He sounded too nonchalant, too rehearsed.Masahiro held back a smirk of his own, though his horror was growing. His body felt… wrong. There was a strange taste on his tongue, a sluggishness in his limbs. He knew damn well he hadn’t touched this man&mdas
Last Updated : 2025-02-03Gold & Sand Chapter 142
The hum of the engine was a dull rhythm in the background as Masahiro's hands gripped the steering wheel with practiced ease. The city around him was waking up, people moving in and out of buildings like clockwork, oblivious to the storm swirling in his mind.He’d barely slept last night, his thoughts too wild, too tangled in the mess Cassidy had created. The image of that stranger in his bed, the drugged haze, and the sheer betrayal that followed still burned in his chest. Masahiro had replayed it over and over in his mind, trying to find the one thing he’d missed. Some clue that could explain what had really happened. But it was all so fucking messy, like someone had taken his life and turned it into a nightmare just to watch him suffer.His jaw clenched as he drove through the morning traffic, trying to shake the feeling that something was about to slip out of his control. He needed to fix this. He needed to find a way to get to Matthew, to make him see
Last Updated : 2025-02-03Gold & Sand Chapter 143
Cassidy adjusted the cuffs of his suit jacket with a precision that came from years of practice. He didn’t need to look at the mirror to know he looked sharp. The reflection would confirm it, but he already felt the familiar, confident surge of satisfaction. Tonight wasn’t about him, though.He walked toward the sitting room, his steps calm but deliberate. As he approached, he saw Matthew slouched on the couch, eyes glazed over as he watched TV. No excitement. No joy. Just... numbness. Typical. Cassidy could see the indifference in the way Matthew held himself, the way his eyes flicked toward the screen but never fully engaged. It wasn’t the indifference of someone who didn’t care… it was the apathy of someone trying not to care. Trying not to care about everything. About him.“Still here?” Cassidy’s voice was smooth, but there was a sharpness to it—like a question that didn’t quite need an answer.Mat
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Gold & Sand Chapter 144
Arthur’s grip on the towel around his neck tightened as he stared at Cassidy, his expression caught between frustration and resignation. The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating, but Cassidy just stood there, one hand lazily resting against the doorframe, his smirk unwavering.“You lied to me,” Cassidy said smoothly, like it was a simple fact rather than an accusation.Arthur sighed, already exhausted. “I didn’t lie.”Cassidy arched an eyebrow. “No?”Arthur shook his head. “I was going to come back late. My boss dismissed me early.”Cassidy hummed as if considering his words. “And yet, you didn’t think to call?”Arthur exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his head. “I didn’t think about it.”Cassidy tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “Didn’t think about it?” He let the words hang between the
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Gold & Sand Chapter 145
Arthur had just finished his beer. Cassidy noticed, his fingers tapping lazily against the rim of his whiskey glass. Just as he was about to signal for another round, Arthur stopped him with a light touch on his wrist."Hey... no, I already had three," Arthur said, his voice firm but not harsh.Cassidy arched an eyebrow, a slow smirk curling his lips. "The night is a child."Arthur huffed. "It's the middle of the week. I gotta work tomorrow. I can’t go in smelling like alcohol... I don’t want problems with my boss."Cassidy tilted his head slightly, watching Arthur with that lazy, calculating gaze of his. "Alright, lemme finish my drink first," he murmured, lifting his glass to his lips. He took a slow sip, watching Arthur over the rim, but didn’t finish it yet. "This boss of yours," Cassidy mused, setting the glass back on the table, "he looks kinda scary."Arthur, now scrolling through his phone, barely glanced up. "He’s n
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Gold & Sand Chapter 146
Arthur lay sprawled on the bed, sheets tangled around his legs, still catching his breath. His gaze was fixed on the ceiling, but his thoughts were miles away, wrapped up in the whirlwind that had just unfolded.Across the room, Cassidy was already pulling his shirt back on, every movement precise and unhurried. It was like he hadn’t just spent the last hour unraveling Arthur, like he was slipping back into a perfectly tailored mask.Arthur sat up slowly, raking a hand through his messy hair, trying to regain some semblance of composure. He could still feel the warmth of Cassidy’s touch lingering on his skin, the faint echo of his breathless words.Cassidy’s voice broke the quiet. "You wanna have lunch with me tomorrow?"Arthur’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing slightly. "Lunch?"Cassidy’s smirk was easy, natural. "Yeah. Food. Conversation. All that boring stuff."Arthur hesit
Last Updated : 2025-02-05Gold & Sand Chapter 147
The morning dragged on, the hum of the office buzzing around Arthur as he sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork. His mind was barely engaged, eyes flicking over the documents without truly processing them. The clock inched toward noon, but he felt stuck in an endless loop of mundane tasks.The buzz of his phone broke through the monotony. Arthur glanced down to see a message from Cassidy:Hey sweetheart! Where do I pick you up?Arthur froze.He hadn’t expected Cassidy to be this direct. A small part of him wanted to simply respond with the address of the office, but then the thought hit him like a cold splash of water… he didn’t want Cassidy knowing where he worked. Not yet. Not like this.The idea of Cassidy showing up at his office, making some dramatic entrance that would draw all eyes, made his stomach churn. Cassidy would do that without hesitation… walk in with his usual charm, and Arthur’s profess
Last Updated : 2025-02-06
Latest chapter
Gold & Sand Chapter 258
Next dayThe apartment was quiet. Too quiet.Adam stepped out of the bathroom, but he froze halfway.Clark was inside his bedroom.Again.Adam blinked once. “You got lost, Harvard?”Clark didn’t even flinch. He was crouched by the dresser, one of the lower drawers already open. He was… putting things in it. Neatly. Folded shirts. Socks.“I needed space,” Clark said, like it was the most logical thing in the world. “Your guest room is tragic. One drawer squeaks, the closet smells like cedar and regret, and I’m pretty sure the bed frame’s older than the Constitution.”Adam crossed his arms. “That don’t explain why you’re touchin’ my shit.”Clark shut the drawer gently. “Relax. I didn’t touch your side.”“I don’t have sides. It’s all my shit.”Clark stood, adjusting his glasses. “Right. Of course. All yours. Including the toothpaste, the whiskey, the Wi-Fi, and half the bed.”Adam stepped forward. “You don’t live here.”Clark tilted his head, eyes innocent. “Could’ve fooled me.”Adam’s j
Gold & Sand Chapter 257
Adam woke to a weight on his chest and the distinct sound of snoring—soft, breathy, and absolutely tangled into his collarbone.Clark.Of course.Adam blinked up at the ceiling like it had personally betrayed him. His arm was pinned under Clark's waist. The man's nose was buried near Adam’s throat, mouth open just enough to let out another blissfully unaware snore.“Jesus Christ,” Adam muttered under his breath.Carefully, he shifted. One leg out. Then the arm. Clark muttered something unintelligible and rolled over, stealing half the blanket in the process.Adam sat up, scratched at his jaw, and sighed like someone who had made four consecutive bad life choices and was too tired to undo any of them.Pants. He found a pair near the foot of the bed—black, worn, familiar. Slipped them on with a grunt.Then came pushups. Pull-ups on the bar in the doorway. A quick set with the dumbbells by the window. Nothing fancy. Just enough to remind his muscles that they still worked.Somewhere arou
Gold & Sand Chapter 256
Adam adjusted the cuffs of his black dress shirt with quiet precision, the fabric taut across his broad frame. His skin, deep and smooth, caught the fading afternoon light spilling through the windows. Honey eyes calm. Black coat folded across the chair. Gun holster hidden beneath his tailored layers. Everything about him looked calculated—ruthless, clean, deadly.Clark sat on the couch, file in hand, glasses low on his nose, pretending not to notice. Or care.They’d had sex that morning. An accident. Again.So no, Clark wasn’t going to ask where Adam was going, or why he smelled like expensive cologne, or why his shirt looked too good to waste on a solo errand.He flipped another page and didn’t glance up. But he knew. Adam was meeting a woman. It didn’t take a law degree to know the signs.Adam grabbed his keys.Clark rose from the couch and crossed the hall to the guest room, muttering to himself. “Left my pen—of course.”Then the power cut.Lights blinked off. Total silence.Then
Gold & Sand Chapter 255
Arthur stepped inside quietly, holding a small bag from the café downstairs. He hadn’t told anyone what was in it—but knowing Cassidy, he’d smell the sugar from a mile away.Cassidy looked up the second the door opened, eyes sharp despite the bruising. “Took you long enough.”Arthur raised an eyebrow. “You’re welcome.”Cassidy smirked. “If I’d known being stabbed meant breakfast delivery, I’d have done it sooner.”Arthur rolled his eyes and set the bag down on the table. “Don’t joke like that.”“Why not? You only show up when I bleed.”Arthur froze.Cassidy tilted his head. “Kidding. Mostly.”Arthur sat down with a sigh. “You’re impossible.”Cassidy grinned, the expression just soft enough to make Arthur forget all the warning signs. “What did you bring?”“Pastry. Something with blueberries. And mango juice. I remembered.”Cassidy lifted a brow, pleased. “You always remember.”Arthur opened the box, handed over the juice. Cassidy took
Gold & Sand Chapter 254
Adam didn’t blink. Just dropped his keys on the counter, walked forward slow. “Daz ain’t even gone five fuckin’ minutes and you’re already climbin’ some rando in my goddamn living room?”Clark shrugged, casual. “You said I wasn’t your boyfriend. I took that as a glowing endorsement to get laid elsewhere.”The man started to stand. Adam stared at him like a gun might follow.“You,” Adam said, low. “Out. Now.”The guy didn’t argue.He grabbed his shoes and bolted, not even looking back.Clark stayed seated on the couch, legs crossed, one hand dragging through his tousled hair like nothing had happened. “You gonna throw a tantrum now, or just glare me to death?”Adam’s voice was ice and asphalt. “You that desperate to get fucked, Clark?”Clark didn’t flinch. “Maybe. Maybe I just wanted someone who doesn’t treat sex like a goddamn war.”Adam stepped closer. “You keep runnin’ your mouth, I’ll give you war.”Clark stood. Smirking. Testing. “Then may
Gold & Sand Chapter 253
The bookstore at Cypress and 18th was small, tidy, and too quiet. Adam stepped in like a loaded weapon, black coat unbuttoned, collar popped, the glint of steel just visible beneath his shirt. The bell above the door jingled. No one greeted him.He didn’t need it.He walked past shelves of overpriced novels and twee little notebooks, past a bored college girl behind the register who looked up, blinked once, and wisely said nothing.Adam turned a corner, found the owner in the back—a short, balding man with glasses and a cardigan. The kind of guy who still believed a politely worded email could fix a debt problem.“Mr. Barnes,” Adam said, voice low, flat.The man flinched. “I—I was going to call. I was just—"“Late. Twice.” Adam stepped closer. “This your idea of fuckin' subtle? You think just 'cause you sell Shakespeare you get to skip your dues?"Barnes swallowed. “I-I didn’t mean—I just needed more time. Things have been slow, and—"“So you thought
Gold & Sand Chapter 252
The door clicked shut behind him with a soft finality. Clark adjusted his glasses, rolled his neck once to the side, and exhaled sharply like he was releasing a conversation he didn’t want to carry. Daz fell into step beside him without needing a cue.The hospital corridors were sterile and humming, a low buzz of monitors and too-white lights. Clark didn’t speak as they made their way down to the lot, didn’t fumble for small talk or even sarcasm. He just walked—brisk, businesslike, jaw set.Outside, the day had sharpened. The sun was too bright for how little he’d slept, and the air held that biting edge of early morning smog. Daz opened the passenger door without a word, and Clark slid inside, gripping the folder tighter than necessary.Once on the road, the silence between them was thick but not uncomfortable. Clark leafed through the motion papers one last time, checked the hospital report again, and drummed his fingers against the leather seat.He didn’t ask Daz
Gold & Sand Chapter 251
Adam woke to the sharp buzz of his phone, vibrating against the hardwood floor like it was ready to start a fight.He groaned, sat up on the couch, and grabbed it.Wilson.He swiped. “Yeah.”“Cypress and 18th. You didn’t forget, did you?” Wilson’s voice was already impatient. “Nine sharp. Don’t fuckin’ be late.”Adam rubbed at his face. “Didn’t forget. Just ain't slept proper.”Click. Wilson was already gone.Adam exhaled hard, dropped the phone to the couch, and rolled his shoulders. Everything ached. He felt like a fridge someone tried to push down a staircase.Dragging himself upright, he trudged to his bedroom to a shower. The door creaked open.Clark was still there.Laid out in his bed like he belonged there. Blanket half-pulled down, shirt riding up, a sliver of hipbone peeking out. And there—barely visible in the low morning light—were the faint, blooming bruises from the night they’d crossed a line.Adam’s jaw ticked.He turne
Gold & Sand Chapter 250
Clark stirred, blinked blearily, and smiled like a cat in sun."Oh good," he said, voice hoarse with whiskey and gall. "I was beginning to think you got lost on your way to your own kitchen.""Get out of my bed."Clark stretched like a man entirely too comfortable. "Mmm. Strong start. But could use more foreplay."Adam’s glare narrowed. "You’ve got your own room.""Do I?" Clark asked with mock surprise.Adam stepped forward. "Get. Out."Clark didn’t move. "Do you treat all your guests this warmly, or am I just special?"Adam reached down, grabbed the blanket, and yanked.Clark gave a low, protesting sound. "Easy, brute. You’ll wrinkle my shirt.""You’ll wrinkle my patience."Clark sat up, brushing his fingers through his hair like he was about to give a TED talk, not be evicted. "You’re very touchy for a man with shoulders that broad."Adam leaned in, voice low. "I swear, if you try one more line—"Clark tilted his head. "You’ll wh
