Chapter 23: The Wolf in Sheep's Cloth

William

At that moment, William's hand shot out and grabbed his arm, pulling him back. In the next second, he cupped Est's neck hard and crashed his mouth against Est's, lips colliding in a deep, hungry, fierce kiss.

Est's breathing caught for a flicker of a moment with surprise, but then he was moving his mouth against Will's, sliding with ease in a passionate dance that seemed like instinct to them both.

The kiss made Will's heart pound, his stomach tighten and his mind snap. It was full of all the pent-up frustration and desire he had been holding back.

He bit down on Est's bottom lip, hard, sending flesh tearing and tasting copper on his tongue.

Est pulled back with a pleasant shiver, pupils blown wide, breaths coming fast and undone.

That was when William completely lost it.He flipped Est over on the table and slammed him down roughly.

The heavy desk thud loudly under the sudden force on the wood, papers, files and pens scattered about.

William's hands came up rough, almost frenzied, as he grabbed the material of Est's shirt and pulled, tearing it off his back. The fabric ripped loudly in the quiet space, the sound splitting like a crack of thunder.

Est's smooth, beautiful back was exposed then— those elegant lines of muscle tense with anticipation, the ghost of the old marks on his side barely visible now.

William paused for a heartbeat, just looking down, his chest rising and falling heavily. Then his hand came up to touch skin, thumb pressing deep, almost as if to make sure this was real— he was real. His hand traced down every flat, curvy surface, slow, reverent, like a secret map only he was allowed to touch.

Est skin was so clean, so flawless, so soft, with no rough bumps and blemishes. And that perfection only called to every darkest part of him.

This was his.

It had to be

The possessive instinct surged through him like a virus, settling in every corner of his mind and clouding his thoughts.

But beyond the dominant haze, William wondered— a rare flicker of vulnerability:

How could one man undo him like this?

So completely?

He was a man who had murdered his father, taken his empire... and built it into something much grander than his father's ambitions could even conjure up.

And he'd done that by striking fear into even the strongest minds and asserting absolute dominance over his world, the people, and his own dark desires.

He'd had a few submissives before. They came and went as he desired. He only used them— their bodies as a tool for release, nothing more, nothing less.

And they always submitted.

But Est?

Est wasn't like the others.

He wasn't afraid even when he was. He challenged every rule, crossed every boundary... and always, always had to get what he wanted.

He made William feel things— anger, fury, affection, lust, protectiveness, possessiveness, jealousy....

Regret even.

Guilt.

And that terrified William, more than he thought he was even capable of.

But it also thrilled him, in equal measures.

His unpredictability? It made William desperate to keep guessing.

William's hand slid up and he unfastened the buckle of his belt. Then he slid it off with a sharp snap of leather that cut through the charged silence.

The sound made Est's breathing shake. He braced himself against the table, knuckles white as he gripped the edge, body taut with a mix of uncertainty and eager readiness.

The first strike landed across Est's back with a loud crack, the belt whistling through the air before it landed on skin.

Est gasped sharply, more startled than in pain, as his body jerked forward.

The second came fast, before he could even prepare himself, the leather biting deeper, enough to make his thighs shake.

The third was even more vicious, sending a tingling sensation from Est's toes up to his groin, drawing a ragged, broken moan from him. His cock twitched hard against the smooth surface of the table.

Each lash sent fire splitting across his nerves, but it was the kind of burn Est had been craving for so long— a necessary, purifying flame.

He drank in the pain like a starving man dying of thirst, hips subtly grinding against the wood as the endorphins flooded his system.

It had been too fucking long.

So fucking long, he'd almost forgotten how good it felt to let go like this, to surrender himself to the relief of finally breaking on his own terms. Not because it was demanded. Not when it was forced on him."

William kept lashing him, brows knitted in concentration, eyes focused as he landed each strike precisely, careful not to mark the same spot more than twice.

With each crack of leather against skin, he poured out the frustrations from the last week.

The sleepless nights, the constant worry over Est's well being, the defiance that both infuriated and aroused him, the terrifying realization that his need for this man went far beyond dominance and control.

"You never listened to a single damn word I say. Not once. ..." William growled between strikes, his voice low and rough, edged with something deeper than anger, something like desperate longing. "You demand instead of asking. You're not even afraid of me. Do you know how FUCKING STUPID that is?!!"

His arm rose and fell again. The strike landed harshly, making Est whimper.

"I've had men twice your size shaking in front of me, begging me for mercy. And you? You just look me in the eye and push."

CRACK!!

Then a second.

Est squirmed on the table, the welts landing hot and angry on his skin, red blooms painting his back red.

He bit his lip hard, tasting the blood from earlier, his body trembling with each impact as the pleasure-pain coursed through him in unsteadying waves.

"You won't eat when I tell you to."

CRACK!

"You won't sleep."

Another!

"You push yourself until you're falling apart. Why the hell would I want a sub like you?! One who fights me at every turn?"

William shot out, voice tight with a storm of emotions— frustration, care, possession.

His strikes grew sharper.

Each word he said hung heavy, revealing the crack in his armor. He craved control because it kept the world at bay, kept emotions distant from him.

Yet, Est's refusal to yield to him made him question everything he'd ever known.

Made him wonder if control wasn't the only way to keep someone close?

Est's breathing hitched violently when the next lash landed.

The pain mixed with something deeper, something that made his eyes sting with unshed tears.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered, voice breaking on a sob. "I'll be better, Sir. I promise. I'll shut up. I'll listen! Just— please flog me harder, Sir."

William's hand on the belt tightened, knuckles turning white. He gave Est what he asked for, the strikes coming faster now, each one landing with more precision and power.

Est moaned with each one, body shivering and arching off the table, pushing back for more like a man starved.

The pain was all he felt now. It flooded through him, washing away the tension of days without rest, without care, his muscles quivering uncontrollably as the impact quaked through him.

On the fifteenth strike, William stopped.

He breathed hard, chest heaving like he'd just run a marathon, sweat beading his forehead. He looked down at the raw, battered back before him. His eyes traced the red welts blooming across Est's skin with a mix of satisfaction and aching lust.

William was painfully hard, cock straining against his pants, throbbing with every heartbeat.

Est slowly lifted off the table, turning his body around and settling against the edge, sweating profusely. He was equally hard and aching. His whole body screamed against him, a live wire of sensation.

Est's looked at William square in the eyes, breathing from parted lips. When he spoke, his voice came out raw but demanding, still full of that stubborn fire. "I want my reward."

William's gaze narrowed. He looked at Est, seeing the spark in his eyes— that defiant light that drove him crazy and made him want more than he'd ever thought he could.

He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "What do you want?"

He braced himself for it.

He knew what Est wanted, what he would probably say.

He knew would have to say no, so he mentally prepared himself for the tantrum that would follow, the headache he knew Est might become again.

But Est— unpredictable as always— said something else, surprising him.

"I want you to... eat my ass." Then as an afterthought. "Sir."

William stared hard for a long moment, shock and light confusion flickering across his features.

Then with a low curse, he moved forward, hands strong and sure as he grabbed Est and lifted him back on the table effortlessly.

He dragged Est's hips to the very edge, then went down on his knees in front of him. He lifted Est's legs up and over his shoulders, the position exposing his nether region.

Est shivered hard from the anticipation, heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst out of his chest. He lifted a leg higher, tip-toe coming to rest on William's shoulder, baring his hole to him.

William bent forward and licked him slowly, tongue flat and warm against his hole, dragging a broad stripe that made Est buck and cry out.

Est moaned loudly, the sound echoing off the office walls, raw and unrestrained. William kept licking in deep, teasing the rim with the tip of his tongue in slow, torturous circles, pressing a thick layer of spit against him, slicking him up. He savored the taste of Est, the shake, the way his body reacted to him— twitching, clenching, opening up for him.

Est bucked and writhed, hand gripping the edge of the table, barely holding himself up, toes trembling on William's shoulder.

William speared his tongue inside, pushing past the rim and the thick walls of muscle and he began to fuck him open, with deep, rhythmic thrusts.

Est's eyes fluttered closed from the heavenly sensation, toes curling tight as a surge of pleasure rushed through him.

He reached down and tangled his fingers in William's hair, breathing through his mouth, moans coming out hoarse and ragged. "Oh God, Sir... mmh yes, that feels so good."

Then when William licked in deeper. "Oh.. fuc— mhmm sir, go deeper... yes, touch me right there... mhm... claim me, please. Make me yours."

William kept eating him out with focused hunger, tongue working around, wet obscene sounds filling the room along with Est's broken moans.

Est's body hummed with pleasure, every nerve alight, the sensation heady and intoxicating.

But he couldn't come yet. Not like this.

He needed more. He craved fullness— Williams fullness. "Mhm... please, Sir..." Est whined, voice turning needy and desperate, hips grinding back against the wet, slippery sensation. "Use your fingers. Please... I need them inside me."

William ignored him at first, still licking and sucking, lost in the taste and the power of reducing Est to this panting, quivering state.

But Est kept begging louder, tone becoming more whiny, body shaking helplessly. "Please, Sir.... Ah! Pleas— shit— please Sir...' He gasped out, breathless. "I need your fingers, please. I'm so empty."

William finally pulled back, lips shiny and swollen, breathing heavily. His eyes were dark and hooded even as they stared up at Est, and when he spoke, his voice was firm, laced with that familiar iron control. "One beating, one reward. That's the deal."

Est was desperate, eyes glassy with need. "Please Sir... I'll do anything you ask. Anything, Sir."

William stared even deeper into his eyes, thoughtful. Then with a low, condescending voice, he said. "I don't want anything from you."

Something in Est splintered.

William smirked darkly, taunting and waiting.

For Est to take the bait.

He wanted Est to keep begging, to perform, to grovel, to yield.

Like a proper submissive would.

But he might have forgotten who he was dealing with.

Est frowned, that stubborn fire flashing in his eyes again.

He shoved William's head off him and slid back against the table, bracing each feet on the hard edge.

"Fine. I'll do it myself." He said, leaning back, not breaking eye contact for a second, defiant even now. He lifted his hand and sucked his fingers into his mouth, moving his lips sensually around the digits, slicking them up for himself.

William slowly came off his knees, head bowed, jaw clenched tight with a mixture of anger and shame as he stood.

Est's now slicked fingers lowered, circling around his rim, teasing the hole William's tongue had been buried deep in just moments before.

William looked at him, with an annoyed breath.

Est kept his eyes on William as he then pushed two fingers inside himself, moaning loudly as they sank in, his body accepting them with a wet, stretching sound. He hissed when he buried them to the hilt, hips jerking as his fingernail grazed his prostate roughly.

William swallowed visibly.

Est then began to move them in, slow and shallow at first, then fast and deep.

His eyes stayed locked on William the entire time, challenging him, daring him as he slid the digits in and out of his hole, stretching himself, clenching tight around himself. His middle finger brushed against his prostate, sending a sharp shiver through him. Soft, filthy moans spilled from his lips, his free hand braced behind on the table as his hip rocked forward, meeting each deep stroke.

William watched, breathing slow, his own cock aching painfully at the graphic sight before him.

Est's fingers moved with purpose— scissoring, curling, putting on a show that tested every ounce of William's built up restraint.

The sight was too much.

It was too raw, too intimate.

Unable to resist any longer, William stepped forward. He roughly grabbed Est's wrist and yanked his fingers away, before replacing them with his own thick digits. The three pushed in fast and deep, filling him all at once.

Est cried out loudly, body pushing back. The stretch was painful at first, a sharp burning pain that made Est gasp and arch, and he shuddered through it.

But as William roughly moved his fingers, his hole soon began to soften around the movements, greedily sucking him deeper.

William curled the digits in expertly, brushing right against his prostate with devastating accuracy.

Est moaned loudly, the sound breaking into a sob of pleasure. "Fuck— so good, Sir... Right there..."

Est planted his sultry gaze on Will, locking him in place. Then he reached forward, and slid his hand down his covered chest, trailing lower.

"You feel so good inside me..." He said, voice was pure sin. "Can almost imagine your cock pressed deep, burying itself in me."

Est's hand moved lower... and lower, until he was right at William's groin. "Bet my hole would feel like heaven wrapped around you. So warm. You'd never want me off you again." He tried to cup William's visible bulge, fingers trembling.

William stopped that invasive hand firmly, planting it back on the desk with a low thud that sent a dull ache through Est.

"No." William said coldly as he fingered Est even faster, deeper, scissoring and curling with relentless purpose, hitting that spot again and again until Est's legs shook, breaking out into uncontrollable moans.

Sweat slicked Est's forehead, his eyes rolled, and his body rocked impulsively into every thrust. "Oh so good... so fucking good. Don't stop! Please don't stop, Sir!"

William couldn't hold back anymore— especially not against that filthy mouth.

He leaned in and smashed his lips against Est's roughly, the kiss intense and almost desperate, teeth nipping, lips smashing.

William couldn't get enough of those heart-shaped lips— broken, swollen but soft from the continuous bite.

Their salivas mixed, and Est moaned deeply into his mouth, the sound vibrating between their bodies, sending slow shivers that made William's cock throb harder.

Their tongues tangled, each wet and needy stroke tracing unfamiliar but welcome territory.

William kissed Est like he was a starving, dying man, sucking on Est's bottom lip and tasting the copper again.

He immersed himself in it— Est's mint flavoured, warm mouth— the connection he had long been denying himself.

Est started to shake violently, tight walls pulsing around William's fingers, his climax imminent. "I'm so close, Sir." Est murmured weakly against his mouth. "I'm going to come. Please let me come, Sir."

William pulled back just enough to speak against his mouth, breaths hot and mingling. "No."

"Please, mmmhh... please, Sir." Est whined and begged, lying back on the desk now, damp hair sticking to his forehead, body arched like a bowstring. His stomach tightened beneath his torn shirt, and his thighs quivered helplessly.

William kept bruising his prostate with every thrust of his fingers, driving him higher and higher to an impossible blissed out state.

Est stared up at the ceiling, but he couldn't really see anything. Not behind the blinding haze of pleasure.

He started crying, tears slipping down his flushed cheeks in hot, long trails. He twisted and turned, toes curling from the overwhelming pleasure-pain. "Please, Sir... Please, I can't— mhm— I need to come."

"You can take it." William shoved his fingers deeper, voice rough and punishing. "You can take a little more. You're always so stubborn, right? Why do you want to come just from my fingers? Tell me."

Est was hyperventilating, sweating profusely, body trembling on the edge of breaking. His fingers grasped and clutched, searching for anything to hold him, keep him from crashing. "Because— fuck!! it's so good, Sir!! I can't... Please!" He begged weakly.

William kept going, relentless, fingers sliding in an out without friction, slamming against that swollen pleasure spot.

"Are you going to keep being difficult?"

"No, Sir..." Est shook his head frantically, panting, voice cracking beautifully. "No more. I promise."

"Who does this body belong to?"

"You..." Est gasped out, tears flowing freely. "It belongs to only you, Sir."

"Yes..." William said, voice deep with dark satisfaction. But there was also something softer, something much profound. "You belong to me. I'll touch you only when I want. Say it."

"Yes, Sir. Only you. I belong to you. Please let me come. I'll be good."

William fingered him a little more, making sure he was right at the razor's edge, eyes clouding, body convulsing.

Est felt like he could pass out.

He felt like he would die if he didn't come now. But as much as he wanted the torture to end, he dreaded William stopping abruptly, his pent-up desire melting away.

So he clung tighter, hanging on by a thread, waiting for permission.

With three more merciless thrusts, William finally gave in. "Come for me."

Est didn't wait for the sentence to end.

He started coming on the very first word, crying out loud, his body shaking violently like he was coming apart at the seams.

He spurted across his torn shirt in thick ropes, muscles clenching tight and pulsing around William's fingers in endless, powerful spasms. The orgasm crashed through him like a tidal wave, legs thrashing, pushing his back off the table— William's hand closing around him to hold him from falling... or breaking. His climax left him panting, struggling, wrecked and boneless.

As the tremors slowly faded, Est dropped his head against William's shoulder, breaths ragged, slightly wheezing in his throat.

William heard the sound and thought that Est might have a cold. He softened immensely, hand curling even firmer around his waist, wary of the welts, while his other stroked soothing patterns onto his hair. "Are you sick?" He asked softly.

Est weakly shook his head, then mumbled a low, raspy. "Thirsty."

"Mhm." William answered, fingers still slow and rhythmic. He paused for a moment, then murmured: "You did good..." He bent forward and pressed a kiss to Est's damp hair tenderly. "So good for me."

As he said it, William felt the weight of his own walls crumbling like pieces of paper around him, soaking up emotion.

Est had slipped past every one of his defenses, making him confront the loneliness his control had built.

This here? it wasn't mere dominance, no. It was a connection, an invisible tie.

And it was deep and terrifying.

But it was also fucking addictive.

Est heard the uneven thuds of William's heart beating.

He looked up from beneath his lashes, lips still parted from breathing too hard, eyes glassy and full of emotion.

William— unable to resist Est's innocent, vulnerable look— lowered his lips to meet his.

They kissed again, much slower this time but just as passionate as the first, maybe even more. Lips slid slowly against lips, tongues touched softly, sweetly, in the way that was enough to make breathing shake... Or stop completely.

William nipped at Est's broken bottom lip, gentler now, but somewhat still possessed. He sucked on lip, on tongue, then lip again, as though trying to draw Est completely into himself.

Est had to break away for breath, chest heaving, but William chased after his mouth again, kissing him even deeper, intoxicated by the taste and feel, like a man discovering water after a drought.

He sucked on the small mole on Est's upper lip, eyes open, watching Est try to keep up with his passionate motions.

William had never really been one for kissing before. He didn't think he had done the act more than seven times total in his life.

But something about Est— about this beautiful, stubborn but vulnerable man in front of him, made him never want to pull away again.

He wanted to live here, lost in those lips forever, letting the intimacy heal parts of him he hadn't known was deeply wanting.

When he finally pulled back, breathing hard, Est's mouth was fully red and swollen, glistening. He was exhausted, naked except for the torn shirt hanging off him.

They were still in the office.

William could order someone to bring a cloth or a duvet to cover him up, but he didn't want anyone seeing Est like this— bare, marked, vulnerable. This sight, he decided, was for his eyes only. The possessiveness-obsessiveness was deep in his bones now.

He pulled back slightly, and started unbuttoning his own loose black shirt, revealing his chest.

Est watched, drinking in the sight: the serpent tattoo that covered his arm up to his shoulder, the defined pecs, the hard abs glistening with a light sheen of sweat and tralied softly with body hair.

William dropped the shirt on the table. Then he reached behind again, pressing Est's cheeks to his naked chest and ripped the fabric the rest of the way off. Then he freed Est from the torn shirt, discarding it on the floor.

He reached down, grabbing his shirt again. Then he draped it over Est, buttoning it up slowly, fingers lingering on each button like they were something sacred.

Est couldn't resist. He lifted his hands and ran them over William's bare chest, palms warm and exploratory against the taut muscles. The touch was firm but still intimate, sending a shiver through William.

His stilled and his breathing paused. He looked down at Est, like he was a new kind of miracle.

This was... new.

While he'd had plenty of submissives before, he never let them kiss or touch him like this.

Usually, after the beating, he just tied them down and fucked them as their reward.

And that was it.

Fucking had never really done much for him emotionally. Kissing and touching felt more intimate, so he denied them as another form of control.

But with Est, everything was different.

He had kissed him that first night. He had wanted to kiss him for a long time now— even back at the house.

He had kissed him here first.

And he'd liked it each time.

He also liked Est's warm palms on his chest.

So he allowed it.

Found he might have even craved it when he did not know.

And with surprising clarity, he realized there wasn't any limit he wouldn't let Est cross.

For the first time, William wondered if true strength lay in vulnerability, in letting someone in.

Because while he'd felt weak denying himself Est, he didn't feel weak giving in to him now.

He let Est's palms stay on his chest, savoring the warmth spreading through him.

At the last button, William confessed softly, voice a hush against Est's skin. "I like it when you wear my clothes..." He paused, then added with quiet honesty. "I like a lot of things about you, Est."

Est's breath hitched, and his glassy eyes widened.

"But I don't like others seeing your legs, your thighs, or the parts only I am allowed to touch." William added, a possessive edge in his voice.

Est gulped, a fresh shiver running through his burning, marked body.

"From now on, you can wear my clothes, but nothing revealing when in front of others." William continued, a little sterner. "But when you're alone with me... you can wear this. Or nothing at all."

Est's breathing paused and the words sent a flush up his body.

"Am I understood?" William asked.

"Yes, Sir." Est answered shakily.

William cupped his face with both hands, thumbs brushing away the dried tear tracks. "If you're going to be mine, you have to take care of yourself. You will eat, sleep. No more pushing until you break. Understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

William kissed him again, slower this time, reassuring, pouring unspoken promises into it.

And Est? He let William have all the control

William then lifted Est up into his arms like he weighed nothing, careful to avoid his injured back. Est's arms and legs securely locked around him and Will carried him out of the office, walking past the long hallways before stepping into his bedroom. There he dropped Est onto the bed carefully, with the same care equivalent to handling the most finest piece of china.

He then poured a glass of water, which he drank slowly. After dropping the glass back, William returned to the bed.

"Take off the shirt and lie on your stomach..." William ordered gently.

Est obeyed, unfastening and shrugging the shirt off, before settling on his stomach with a tired sigh.

William reached into the drawer and pulled out a tube of ointment. Unscrewing the cap, he pressed some of it onto his fingers and applied it carefully to the welts, his touch feather-light despite his natural strength.

The cooling balm felt like heat on Est's sensitive skin at first, then soothed the burn into something dull and manageable.

Est sighed in deep relief, body melting into the bed.

William leaned down and kissed between his shoulder blades, lips lingering against firm skin. "Sleep now." He whispered, hot breath ghosting Est's ears.

Est did as he was told.

The exhaustion from the past few days, combined with the sheer relief everything that had just happened, pulled him under fast.

He fell into a deep sleep with William watching over him, one hand gently stroking his hair in slow, soothing strokes.

William stayed next to him for a long time, just staring at the man who had come into his life and turned his whole world upside down.

Est's breathing evened out, face peaceful in sleep, lashes casting soft shadows against his cherks.

As William looked, he felt a strange mix of protectiveness and hunger that went beyond the physical.

This wasn't just about control anymore.

It was... something more. Deeper. Scarier.

He didn't know where it would lead, but for the first time, he didn't feel like fighting it.

Est had forced him to confront his reality, that maybe his iron grip on control and power had left him isolated, and maybe a little lonely.

He whispered into the quiet room, voice barely audible. "What am I going to do with you?"

Est didn't stir, now lost in restful sleep.

William pulled the duvet over him and sat beside the bed, content to watch for now, his hand never leaving Est's hair.

This fire between them, it hadn't smoldered out. Not yet.

it had only just begun to burn brighter, and William hope it wouldn't end up consuming them whole.

~~~

Hong

Hong and Lego drove in silence towards the rundown motel on the outskirts of town.

The afternoon sun rained on them as they pulled up to the old beat down building. Yellow police tape still sealed off the room as a couple of forensics analyst finished their final sweep inside.

Officer Force stood by the front, hand on his waist as he nodded his head towards the approaching figure. "Good morning inspector Hong." He turned to Lego. "Lego!!! You're back. How's your mom doing?"

Lego gave a small, uneasy nod. "She's better now." He glanced sideways at Hong, as though he'd been caught off guard.

Hong's eyes narrowed.

That was odd.

He kept his expression neutral though, asing Force. "Anything new from the scene?"

Officer Force shook his head. "Not much. We only lifted about three fingerprints total in the room. Forensics is running them now— results should come back soon but accounting for cleaning staff or former occupants, don't expect much." He jerked his thumb towards the motel. "You should take a final look before we clear out."

Hong nodded. "Lego, why don't you check the room? I'll look at the car."

Lego hesitated for a moment, then he nodded and ducked under the tape.

Hong nodded towards Force and both started walking to the parked vehicle. Force asked. "How's Inspector Nut? I heard about the suspension."

"He's okay... He'll be back soon." Hong answered quietly.

"That's good to hear..." Force responded, voice relieved.

Hong bent, squinted his eyes and scanned the car's interior. "Anything here?"

"Nah, same old. We only found Luke and Mick's fingerprints. Nothing else." Force shrugged.

Hong let out a slow sigh.

He glanced back toward the motel, then turned to Force again "So... what did you mean earlier? When you said Lego was back?" His tone was casual.

Force was puzzled at first, but then he raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Lego was the first one here. Happened to be in the area when the call came in. He found the bodies and radioed for backup. I showed up right after."

What?

Hong frowned. "He wasn't here when we came by yesterday."

"Yeah, he had to leave quick... family issue with his mom. Asked me to cover for him." Force paused then, studying Hong's expression. "Wait... you don't think he's—"

"Of course not..." Hong cut in quickly, forcing a smile. "Was just surprised, that's all."

Force nodded, but the doubt lingered in his eyes.

Hong changed the subject then. "When's Namtan doing the autopsy?"

"In a few hours. Y'all should head on there soon."

"Thanks." Hong clapped Force on the shoulder and headed towards the motel office.

The manager was a nervous mess, shifting from foot to foot as Hong asked about security footage.

That wasn't suspicious at all, Hong thought sarcastically.

"Oh none of that works..." The man mumbled, avoiding eye contact. "We're a small, rundown motel, Sarawat. We just left them there to give the impression it does. Keeps the occupants in line to an extent."

Hong watched him closely.

The man scratched his head, and his jaw and his hands trembled slightly.

He was lying. Hong could feel it in his gut.

For a moment, he considered pressing harder, but he held back. "Okay... I'll keep in touch if we need anything else." He said evenly.

The man watched him leave the room with a worried expression.

Hong found Lego standing outside the room, leaning against a pillar, eyes on the sand.

"Find anything?" Hong asked.

Lego looked up, then shook his head with a straight face. "Nothing."

Hong studied him for a beat. "We should go." He said with a blank expression.

Lego nodded without a word and followed him back to the car. They sped off, the motel shrinking in the rearview mirror.

The silence inside the car was dense, filled with apprehension and suspicion.

After a few minutes, Hong spoke up, looking at the rear view mirror. "You hungry?"

"Sure..." Lego answered but his voice was monotonous.

They picked up burgers from a nearby eatery and parked a few blocks away from the department morgue.

Back in the car, they ate in complete silence for a moment. Hong listened to the sound of Lego chewing, staring straight ahead through the windshield.

He waited for the right moment, then asked, voice low but firm.. "What's going on, Lego?"

Lego paused mid-bite. He swallowed and looked at Hong. "What do you mean?"

Hong turned to look at him. "I know you were the one who found the bodies."

Lego shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I happened to be close by."

"Bullshit."

Lego set his burger down slowly, jaw tightening. "What are you implying, Hong?"

"Why were you there?" Hong pressed, voice sharp.

"I already told you."

Hong leaned against the door, posture at ease. "Funny. It's also convenient that footage of Nut showed up and he got suspended. Now you're suddenly on the case instead of him."

Lego's face hardened. "As you said, coincidence."

"I don't believe you..." Hong shot.

Lego stared at him. "...And what do you believe?"

Hong paused, letting the tension hang. Then: "I think... you were the last person who saw Luke and Mick alive."

Hong saw a vein pop in Lego's forehead. His hands clenched in his lap.

Hong didn't back down from his icy glare Eventually, he glanced down at his watch. "The autopsy should be wrapping up now. We should go." He opened the car door and stepped out.

Lego's eyes never left him as he moved around the car. Soon, he got out as well and followed.

~~~

The heavy metal doors of the morgue building creaked open as Hong and Lego stepped inside.

The air hit them like a immovable wall— cold, damp, and carrying that sharp, pungent smell of embalming fluid and death. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a pale, greenish glow on the tiled floors.

Hong pulled his jacket tighter around himself. He had been to this place many times before, but it never got easier.

Lego walked beside him, his steps a little too quick, his face trying to look calm but his eyes darting around in suppressed distress.

A young aide in a white uniform hurried over to them. In his hands was a clipboard and a pen. "Sawadee krub..." The young said softly. "You must be the officers here for the autopsy viewing. Dr Namtam is waiting. Please follow me."

Hong nodded and they both followed. They walked down a long hallway, the walls plain white, lined with metal doors that led to storage rooms. The temperature dropped even more as the deeper they went.

Lego rubbed his arms, his breath visible in small puffs.

The aide eventually pushed open a set of double doors at the end of the hall. Inside, the room was brighter, with big overhead lamps and steel tables. Two bodies lay covered with white sheets on separate tables.

The cold made Hong's skin crawl and he swore he could feel the chill coming off the bodies.

Dr Namtan stood at a side counter, pulling on fresh gloves. She was in full gear— blue scrubs, white coat, long hair held back under a cap, and a mask hanging around her neck.

She turned when she heard them and smiled stiffly. "Just in time..." She said, her voice blunt but friendly enough.

Hong pressed his hands together in a wai. "Sawadee ka, Doctor."

Lego followed quickly. "Sawadee ka."

Dr Namtan returned the greeting with a warm nod. "Sawadee krub, both of you." Her eyes lingered on Hong for a moment longer, a small smile forming on her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Nice to see you again, Hongshi. It's been a while."

Hong felt an uneasiness in his chest in the cold room.

They had history, had been close for a time before life pulled them in different directions. "It's good to see you too.... How's Film? Is she doing okay?"

Namtan's smile brightened. "She's good. Busy with her thesis, but all is well."

"That's good to hear..." Hong replied with a faux smile of his own.

Lego stood quietly beside him, gaze darting between them. Hong could sense his mind plotting, the tension rolling off him.

Namtan then turned towards the table and pulled back the sheet on the first body with clinical ease. "Let's begin."

The body was Mick's. His skin was pale and there was a stitched Y incision on his torso. His face, Hong remembered— once teary eyed but full of life nonetheless— now looked sunken and empty.

Hong's stomach twisted.

He had spoken to Mick, heard his voice, seen the innocence and youthfulness in him.

But now, he was reduced to this— nothing but cold, pale flesh on a steel table.

A wave of nausea hit Hong, hard and fast. He swallowed hard and looked away for a second, breathing through his mouth.

Dr Namtab opened her file and started reading in a steady, unaffected voice. "Mick Metawin. Cause of death: Acute fentanyl intoxication by inhalation. There were high levels of the deadly substance in his system. But there's more." She pointed to dark marks on the arms and torso. "These are fresh bruises. Defensive wounds on his hands too. Suggest victim was in a struggle before he died."

Hong gave Lego a slow look. "So... possible homicide?"

Lego stood rigid, face blank, hands clenched at his side.

Dr Namtan met his eyes. "Yes... Very likely. The overdose does not seem voluntary."

She moved to the second table next and uncovered Luke's body. Luke looked identical in death— same Y incision, completely pale save for the faint marks. "Luke Peemsan. COD: also overdose from fentanyl. But the picture here is different. The bruising on his chest is old, so no recent sight of a struggle or confrontation. However..." She leaned down and gently turned his head to show a small puncture mark on the neck. "If you look close, there is a small puncture mark on his neck. It's fresh."

Lego paled visibly. All the color drained from his face, and he looked like he might be sick.

Hong noticed of course. But pretended not to. He kept his voice low and even. "I don't see anything."

"It's very easy to miss. But it's here. Something was directly injected into his vein."

"Possible suicide?" Lego asked, his voice hoarse, words coming out a little too fast.

Dr Namtan shook her head. "Unclear for now. But with the puncture mark, it points to someone else injecting him. Self injection is usually done on the arms or thighs. I've already sent blood samples to the lab for a full tox report. If there was an incapacitating drug in his system before the fentanyl, then Luke's death will most likely be ruled a homicide too."

The words hung in the cold air like a death sentence. Lego's entire body stiffened. Hong could see the fear flash across his face before he hid it.

But he kept his questions to himself and left expression neutral. "How long until the report comes back?" He asked.

"It could be a few hours..." Dr Namtan said, still examining the body. "Or it might take a few of days, depending on how busy they are. I'll let you know as soon as I have results, Hong."

"Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate it." Hong said sincerely.

Namtan gave him another stiff smile. Then she gave Lego a quick, calculative look before pulling the sheets back over the bodies. "I need to write my report. Have a good evening, both of you."

She walked out, her rubber shoes squeaking softly against the tile floor. The metal doors banged behind her, leaving Hong and Lego alone with the two cold bodies.

Hong turned to Lego, tipping his head towards the door.

Without a word, he walked out.

Lego exhaled shakily and followed. They moved through the hallways until they reached a deserted corner where a single dim light bulb hung overhead.

Lego looked uneasy, his posture still stiff.

Hong stopped and turned to him. "Start talking." He said coldly.

Lego stuttered at first. "Hong... I... it's not what you think—"

"Start. Talking." Hong repeated, voice low but sharp. His eyes bored into Lego's, staring ice at him.

Lego's head fell back with regret. He moved back and leaned against the wall, rubbing his face with both hands. "Okay. Okay. Okay. I'll talk."

Hong waited.

"I... I've been letting some drug dealers uptown slide. Looking the other way on small stuff." Lego confessed.

Hong's eyes widened. "Wh— Lego, are you working with the Yakuza?"

"No— No!" Lego said quickly. "Or I didn't know at first. I just needed the extra cash. Luke paid well to keep me off his back. It was easy money. Stupid money."

Hong ran a hand through his hair, anger rising in his chest. "Luke got his supplies from the Yakuza. If the Nagas find out you had anything to do with them, it's a death sentence. You know that."

"I know!" Lego whispered harshly, but even then his voice cracked. "I made sure they wouldn't find out. I was careful."

Hong stepped closer. "What did you do, Lego?"

Lego's eyes filled with guilt and fear. "After Chokun's death... the boy came to me. He threatened me! I had to hide him for some time, at least until he got out of the country." He paused for a moment, breathing unevenly. "Then... word on the street came that the Nagas were planning to flush out all the foreign drug dens and their accomplices. Completely. Luke was a loose end for me. So I had to cover his tracks."

Hong's stomach twisted again, worse than when he saw the boys body. "What about Mick?"

Lego looked down at the floor. "I asked Luke to come to the motel. Told him I would help him with a new start... away from the country. But he brought the boy with him."

"So you killed them?" Hong hissed sharply.

"No!" Lego's head snapped up. "Luke only brought him there to kill him. Said he knew too much. I swear, Phi."

Hong stared at him. "And you watched him kill Mick?"

"At that point, there was nothing I could do. He knew too much. If Luke didn't do it... I would have to. I didn't want him to, but he was in too deep."

"What happened?" Hong asked, voice tight.

"He tried to run. I blocked his path, and held him back. Then Luke forced him to inhale the drugs.

The confession hit Hong like a punch to the gut. He stared at Lego, horrified. He could see the shame on his face, the way his hands trembled.

But it did nothing to move him.

In that moment, Hong felt completely sick. Not from the morgue, but at the man standing in front of him.

"So Luke killed him..." Hong said slowly, careful not to talk too fast lest he throw up. "Then what?"

"The plan was always to stage his suicide. After he posed Mick on the bed, I injected him with a dose of midazolam. He fell asleep on the bed afterwards. Then... I let him inhale the fentanyl. When he died, I posed them together. Made it look like they both died in some sad suicide pact. But someone called the police before I could finish cleaning up. The dispatcher put out the call for officers nearby so I took it. Waited a few minutes and called for backup. When they found me inside, they didn't suspect a thing."

Hong's mind pieced quickly it together. "And then you got the manager to lie and erase the footage of your arrival."

Lego nodded. "He owes me a favor. I had to cover my tracks, Phi. That's all."

Hong shook his head, turning and walking a few places, disappointment evident in his face. "Well, the jig is up, Lego. Namtam has evidence a crime happened. When the toxicology report gets in, it's going to point straight to homicide."

Lego stepped forward, desperation clear on his face. "And that's why I got on this case Phi. Yes, I got Nut suspended. If anyone could unearth what i'd done, it would be him. And he wouldn't hesitate to put me away."

Hong's eyes flashed protectively. But he calmed himself and listened to reason.

Lego was right... and he was also smart to get Nut off the case. He sighed. "Well, Nut or not, you're in deep shit here Lego. If the tox gets out—"

"Thats why I need your help, Phi." Lego interrupted, voice urgent. "I noticed you have some sort of relationship with Dr Namtan. Maybe you can talk to her... slow things down a little. Or leave some shit out. Something."

Hong's eyes narrowed. "I can't help you." He said coldly.

Lego's face crumpled. "Are you really going to let me take a fall like this?" He asked desperately. "After all we've been through together? After all we know about each other?"

And there it was.

The unsaid words.

The threat.

It pressed against Hong like a knife in his side.

Help me or I ruin you.

Lego reached out and held Hong's hand, his grip tight and pleading. "Please, Phi. My mom's old and sick. I'm an only child. I can't go to prison. She has no one else."

Hong paused, lip curling in anger. Then he looked away.

The anger burned in him— anger at Lego's stupidity, at the bodies on those cold tables, at the position this put him in.

But memories flooded back too.

Late nights on stakeouts where Lego had his back. Times when Lego covered for him when things got messy. All the times Lego fed him info that strengthened William's trust in him.

Shared secrets that could destroy them both.

They had history, messy and complicated as it was.

Hong knew he shouldn't get involved.

This was wrong. Dangerous even.

It could cost him everything.

If Nut found out...

Fuck!!!

He looked at the younger cop.

Lego's eyes were glassy now, real fear showing.

Fuck.

He sighed deeply, and paced, dragging his hand through his hair. The air around him seemed to tighten.

"Okay...." Hong answered eventually, the word tasting bitter on his tongue.

He didn't have a choice in the matter. Not really. Not with everything on the line.

"Okay." He repeated, even more resigned.

~~~

Hong waited until it was past work hours, when the medical examiner's office was nearly empty.

He knocked once on Dr Namtan's door and stepped inside without waiting for an answer.

Dr Namtan looked up from her desk, glasses perched on her nose, the autopsy photos of Mick and Luke still open on her monitor.

"Detective Hong... I wasn't expecting you." She said in that same monotone voice.

Hong knew that was a lie.

She'd been expecting him.

Hong shut the door behind him and then walked to her table. He didn't waste any time. "Doctor, i'm here about the Peemsan and Metawin case..."

Namtan waited patiently.

He started quietly with visible reluctance. "Luke was a known drug pusher in the elite parts of Bangkok's high school area. As you said, he most likely killed Metawin."

"That is correct." Namtan said with a stoic face.

Hong looked around and lowered his voice. "Look, the Nagas are involved. Luke was a loose end and he needed to go."

Namtan's expression didn't change, but her fingers tightened slightly around her pen.

Hong sighed, fingers slightly shaky.

Fuck Lego for making him do this.

He was uncertain, but there was a high probability that Lego killed them both. He had the means to and he used it.

Luke had been hiding for a while now. He was being hunted down and he was scared. So he thought he could only trust Lego.

And Metawin? Metawin just happened to be there when Luke's past finally caught up to him.

Luke probably loved Mick, and Mick loved him back.

So Luke having to take the fall for a murder he didn't commit— the murder of the love of his life? It didn't sit right with Hong.

Luke didn't deserve that.

It was beyond tragic.

But at the end of the day, dead men didn't decide what the truth was. The living did.

Lego was very much alive.

And so was he.

It wasn't that he gave a fuck what happened to Lego. But just like Luke, Lego was a loose end in his own story. He didn't know much, but he knew enough about Hong to ruin his relationship with Nut and put him away for a few years.

And though Lego didn't say it, he could sense the threat in the way he pleaded with him.

The unsaid, 'Or else.'

Fuck!!!

If Nut could see him right now, everything would be over before he could even blink.

But if anything good came out of this, at least now Lego owed him a favour.

Luke and Mick were dead.

He was very much alive.

And he wanted— no needed to spend the rest of his life with Nut. Even at the expense of integrity, even when it meant being the most unscrupulous piece of shit to have ever existed.

He continued, though much hesitantly. "We don't know why Luke killed him. We don't even know for sure if it was intentional. But Luke is guilty. And he was a drug dealer. Nobody is going to miss him. We don't need his death to be a homicide."

"That's a dangerous request, Khun Hong" Namtan said. "Especially with toxicology already underway."

"Make that go away too. That puncture wound, it doesn't exist."

Dr Namtan leaned back in her chair, expression hardening slightly. "You're asking me to omit evidence."

"I'm asking you to leave out a mark nobody else would notice unless you pointed it out first." His tone remained calm. "There's no reason to complicate the case."

"The wound suggests sedation with a sleeping agent, or a potent drug. Luke was murdered. Who's to say Mick wasn't by the same hand?"

"He wasn't." Hong said firmly. "So you're not breaking your principles for an innocent, Namtan. Are you going to do what I asked?" Hong asked, voice sharper.

He didn't think there was anyone he hated more than himself in this moment.

"You're not asking for discretion, Hong. You're asking me to bury a murder. If this gets out, it could ruin me."

Hong didn't say a word. He waited.

Namtan stared at him, long and hard.

Hong sat still, cracking under the weight of accusation in her eyes behind her glasses.

After what felt like too long, she exhaled slowly through her mouth.

Then she turned to her computer. "There's a vacation house I've had my eye on for a while now." She said, almost casually. "Up in Chiang Mai. A private spot I could take my wife and kids too during the summer break."

Hong didn't spare a breath. "Done."

"Do you know what he was injected with?"

Hong felt bile stuck up his throat. "Midazolam."

Namtan nodded. "Good. That's feasible."

Hong swallowed.

Namtan glanced at him for several seconds, searching for hesitation. She saw it clearly in his posture.

But then again, it wasn't like she could care about it. She was just another piece in the dirty game of chess that was their world.

Very much like Hong.

She returned her eyes to her computer. "Consider it done." She said finally. "Luke murdered his friend, then took his own life ingesting sleeping pills and inhaling the potent drug. The puncture wound will not be listed. The Midazolam will be noted as voluntary ingestion. Cause of death for both: acute fentanyl intoxication via inhalation, manner of death: probable suicide for Luke, probable homicide for Mick by Perpetrator Luke due to visible bruising on his body which implies a struggle. We'll wrap the whole case under drug-related homicide-suicide. No further investigation required."

Hong gave a single nod.

"Okay.. I'll make sure the records reflects that. You'll have confirmation about the house by the end of the week?"

"You have nothing to worry about."

Namtan smiled sweetly at him. Then returned her eyes to the computer. "Tell the Nagas it was nice doing business with them, Hongshi."

Hong stood up. "Understood." He paused at the door. "And Doctor... thank you."

Namtan didn't look up from her screen. "Just make sure I get the deeds fast"

~~~

Hong pulled out his phone as he left the building, the cold, putrid air from inside still clinging to his nostrils.

The moon was out tonight, painting the roads outside in soft white light.

He leaned against a street for a moment, taking deep breaths to steady himself.

Lego was still in the car, waiting, staring at Hong with a tense face.

Hong gave him a sour look, and picked up his phone from his pocket, dialing Nut's number.

The phone rang twice before his boyfriend picked up.

"Hey, babe..." Hong said, his voice softening instantly. A small smile tugged at his lips despite everything. "How are you? What did you do all day?"

Nut's chuckle came through the line, warming him. "Hey baby... I'm okay. I was just thinking about you."

"Oh really? You were?" Hong smiled, a pleased thing.

"Yes, babe. Being suspended is so boring. I went out to get some things for the apartment since i'm going to have you over more often. After that, I tried to read some files on the case at home to see if we missed out on anything."

"Did you find anything?" Hong asked, a little more eager than he meant.

Nut sighed. "No... Another dead end. I ended up taking a nap. But most of all, I just missed you."

Hong's heart swelled. "I missed you too." He said softly, a little surprised at how deeply he meant the words.

He could hear Nut smile behind the phone. "Mhm... so how about you? How was your day? Anything new?"

Hong closed his eyes for a second, letting Nut's voice wash over him like a comfort blanket. "Yeah, pretty long one."

Nut's voice thickened with worry. "You sound... off. Is it about the case?"

Hong swallowed hard, throat bobbing. He slowly started towards the car, keeping his voice low and even. "The case... it's been ruled a murder-suicide. We wrapped up today."

There was a pause on the other end. Then: "Okay... so any leads on the perpetrator? Or was it really just the two of them?"

Hong squeezed his eyes shut. Guilt swelled in his chest like a heavy stone, pressing tight against his ribs cage. He leaned against the car door for support. "Yes. From the conclusive evidence we gathered... Luke might have killed Mick and then killed himself. There's was no sign of a third perpetrator. I think it might have been... accidental or idk if it was intentional. He had taken sleeping pills. Poor kid was probably suffering from insomnia and he went crazy under pressure and... it ended like that."

Nut's voice was rife with disbelief. "But Hong, that makes no sense. None of that adds up from what we saw before."

Hong kept his eyes shut tight, breathing shakily.

The image of Luke and Mick's cold body on the steel table flashed in his mind again. The weight of the lie sat heavy in his heart and on his tongue.

"I know it sounds off babe, but all the evidence points there. There were no fingerprints, no footprints, no outside interference. Just a guy who got in too deep to get out and had to take someone with him."

Nut was quiet for a beat. Then: "Do you truly believe that, Hong?" He asked quietly, no accusation in his tone, just absolute trust in him.

Hong's breathing hitched. He felt a headache forming. Pressing a hand to his forehead, he sighed and then answered. "Yes." But the word came out shaky despite his effort to sound steady. "I do... I'm just... really sorry that the kids got caught up in all this. They didn't deserve any of it."

Nut's tone seemed to soften instantly, full of sympathy. "Hey... I understand. You carry so much on your shoulders. It's okay to feel bad about it. But none of it was your fault, do you understand."

"Yeah... I know." Hong answered quietly. He let out another aching sigh.

Nut caught the sound. "Come to me, yeah? Let me take care of you tonight."

Hong smiled warmly, the guilt fading away now, replaced with a rush of love. "You always know what to say. I'm coming soon. Do you want anything? Food? Snacks?"

"Just you..." Nut said gently, his voice dropping into that low, raspy, intimate tone that always made Hong's heart flutter."Come home soon. I'll wait up."

Hong let out a soft laugh. "I'll be there soon. I love you."

"I love you too." He ended the call and stood there for a moment, staring at Nut's contact photo on the screen.

All he felt was warmth now but as he took a look at his environment and remembered where he was, guilt rushed back in.

He gritted his teeth, opened the car door, and slid into the driver's seat.

Lego looked at him nervously from the passenger side as he tucked his seatbelt in. "Everything okay, Phi?"

Hong didn't answer right away. He started the engine, jaw tight. "We're done here. Don't push your luck again."

The car pulled out of the lot, silence heavy settling between them.

~~~

Nut

One week later.

Nut had been completely unproductive.

While the Chokun-Peemsan-Metawin case had been closed, the Citadel investigation still sat cold and heavy on his mind.

While he was supposed to use this suspension break to dig deeper— find out what the mysterious number on the back of the card meant, follow up on the list of names— he had done nothing.

He had dialed the number a few weeks before, but it was a disconnected line.

He worked with a numbers expert friend to find out if it had any significance or deeper meaning, but other than occultic bullshit, he got shit for his effort.

For months now, he'd been chasing ghosts, but it had led nowhere. Just one dead end after the other.

He decided to use little 'holiday' as he now called it, to shift focus to another complete angle.

Because his boyfriend was right. He could get killed going after the names on the list.

So he settled on looking closer— not at them, no. But a little closer. His targets were now the subordinates, the inferiors, people whom no one looked twice at but noticed everything.

Assistants, receptionists, drivers, janitors.

It was supposed to be easy.

May have even been effective. Productive.

But that plan? It never saw the light of day.

Why?

Because of Hong.

His boyfriend was a fucking siren. And Hong was an insatiable beast with a hunger nothing could fill.

Nut knew he should have tried harder to stay focused. He was supposed to a detective, after all.

But he was still just a warm-blooded man.

And Hong? He was so fucking beautiful, with that strong yet graceful body, those small intense eyes, and smile that made Nut's knees go weak.

And the things Hong could do with his mouth... Nut shivered just thinking about it.

It wasn't like Nut actively chased after him.

Hong came to him.

He would sneak away from work during lunch, and come back home to fuck the will and productivity out of him.

Sometimes, he would ask Nut to come over to the station, claiming he needed 'help with a lead'. Then he would pull Nut into the back seat of the car or an empty storage room at the station, get down on his knees and suck his nutsack empty.

Sometimes he'd text 'lunch together?' and they'd end up parked somewhere quiet, windows fogged up, Hong riding him until they were both breathless. Until Nut didn't even remember his name, let alone a Citadel.

And Nut fell for it.

Every. Fucking. Time.

By the time Hong was done with him, his body would be too spent, bones jelly, brain foggy with pleasure.

He couldn't think about investigations. Couldn't think about anything that wasn't Hong.

The nights were even worse.

Hong would keep him up for hours, fucking him, slow and deep or fast and desperate.

Mornings started the same way— Hong waking him with kisses down his chest and a warm mouth wrapped around his cock. One time, Hong woke him up by sitting on his face.

And Nut never resisted.

He met every touch with equal, fervent hunger.

Because being with Hong was intoxicating. Addictive even, almost dangerous in how heavenly it was.

Even right now, in the golden afternoon light spilling through the bedroom curtains, Hong was bouncing on his cock, head thrown back, sweat glistening on his skin.

"God!! You're so big, Nut!" Hong screamed, hands braced on Nut's chest. "Mhm, yes! Yes! Right there, uhm I love how your cock splits me open."

"Shit!" Nut cursed, watching his cock disappear and reappear in Hong's hole, whole body sweating bullets as Hong's hips smacked down to him.

"Fuck baby— Give it to me. Cum for me— fuck you're shaking. Almost there? Don't hold back, baby! Give me everything! Fill me up! I'm gonna hold your cum inside me all day long."

Nut could only nod weakly, eyes crossing now as Hong slammed down on him, riding the life out of him.

The dirty words, combined with the tight heat and the sight of Hong's broken, blissed-out expression, pushed him over the edge.

He gripped Hong's hips hard, fingers digging crescent into his skin. And then came with a deep groan, spurting thick, hot liquid, pulsing inside him.

Hong then slowed his movements, riding out each pleasurable wave.

When Nut's soaked body finally stilled, he leaned down to kiss him— slow, sloppy, and full of filth and affection. Their tongues tangled lazily as Nut struggled to catch his breath.

Hong broke away and finally lifted off him. Nut's softening cock slipped out with a soft, wet sound, a small trickle of cum following, staining Hong's thigh.

Hong didn't bother wiping it.

He simply got of the bed and reached for his jeans on the floor, sliding them on with a mischievous grin on his face.

Nut raised an eyebrow, still panting. "You really meant it, huh? Gonna walk around like that?"

Hong's eyes sparkled. "Mmm-hmm. Want to feel you leaking out of me all day while I work. It's gonna keep me thinking about you."

Nut's spent dick twitched instinctively at the words.

Hong noticed instantly. "Did your dick just twitch?" Hong laughed softly. "Already horny for me again?"

"Always..." Nut admitted, voice husky.

Hong smiled, and then leaned down face level with his dick, cooing at it. "Awwww baby... don't worry, beautiful. Momma's gonna come back later to play with you again. Gonna feed you real nice and deep."

Nut groaned, covering his face with both hands, half-laughing, half-embarrassed. "Don't baby talk my cock, Hong."

Hong giggled— the sound light and happy— before placing a few soft, teasing kisses along Nut's length, then the piercing, pulling a soft moan, and another twitch from Nut.

Once done, he pulled the blanket over him gently and crawled up to smooched Nut properly on the lips, all tender and sweet. "See you later, baby."

"Later..." Nut murmured, pulling him in for one more kiss.

Hong left with a wink, closing the door softly.

Nut lay there, thoroughly fucked out, staring at the ceiling with a doped out smile.

He grabbed a pillow and shoved it over his head, and drifted off into a deep, satisfied sleep.

He woke up hours later, the room bright as the hot afternoon sun beat down.

His body felt heavy but relaxed as he got up. He quickly took a shower, and afterwards, he wandered to the kitchen in a pair of Hong's sweatpants, hair still damp.

He grabbed a box of cereal and ate straight from it, leaning against the counter while turning on the tv. There was nothing interesting to watch. Just some weather reports and local politics news.

Nut sighed, slumping against the couch.

Without Hong, he was beyond bored.

This was exactly why he loved working. His days now blurred between eating, sleeping, and being inside Hong.

He picked up his phone and sent a quick text to him.

Nut: Miss you already. Come home soon?

Hong replied almost immediately with a photo— a selfie of him at his desk, blowing a kiss to him.

Hong: Thinking about you too. Can still feel you leaking out of me🤭 Miss you more.

Nut grinned and typed back.

Nut: your mouth.

Hong: want it anywhere specific tonight?

Nut: I have a few ideas. Come here and I'll show you.

Hong: yum 😋 I guess I know what i'll be having for dinner.

Nut: Hong!!!!

They flirted back and forth for ten minutes, messages growing filthier, then sweeter by turns.

Nut ended it with a:

I'll cook your favorite tonight. Come home hungry... for food and me.

Hong: Can't wait 🤤😈

Nut set the phone down, heart warm and full, smiling wide and stupid.

But as he sat there, the boredom slowly crept back in. He stood up and wandered around the apartment, exploring corners he hadn't paid much attention to before.

Though he had been coming and staying over often, he mostly hung around to the living room, the kitchen and bedroom.

He ran his fingers through shelves, walls, looked in the laundry room and sifted through dirty clothes, painting a picture of Hong's fashion sense outside of work.

He picked a sparkly crop top that looked many sizes too small and smiled warmly, as he brought it to his nose, inhaling deep. Hong's perfume filled his nostrils and he imagined Hong's long torso stretching it.

He wondered where he'd worn it to. He guessed Hong did have some sort of social life outside of work. Nut made a mental note to take him out sometime. They could dress up, and go somewhere quiet but romantic.

Things normal couples do.

He came out of the room, and continued exploring, tracing his fingers against the wall, as though it was an extension of Hong himself.

At the end of the hallway, he found a strong metal door he hadn't seen before with a light switch next to it. He turned the knob and opened it, stepping into what looked like a car garage. But it was dark, no windows or external source of light.

Nut flicked the switch on and the space filled with light. What seemed to be three cars sat inside, all neatly covered with thick black tarps.

Nut blinked in surprise.

He didn't know Hong had multiple cars.

When Nut had the squad car— which was most of the time— Hong took a ride around.

Nut felt an unsettling feeling rise in his chest. And his curiosity got the better of him.

He walked over to the closest one and lifted one corner of the tarp. And his heart slammed hard against his ribcage when he caught a peek.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he grabbed the fabric with both hands and yanked the entire tarp off in one motion.

Nut's eyes widened as he stood before the Rolls-Royce drop tail.

And his heart shattered like glass.

~~~

Hong

Hong pushed open the front door, his shoulders heavy with exhaustion from the days work.

His muscles ached, and his mind felt foggy. He stepped inside the house, it's familiar scent of home wrapping around him like a comforter.

"Baby... I'm home..." He called out softly, voice tired but warm. He kicked off his shoes and waited for the warm welcome he'd been looking forward to for hours now.

But there was no answer.

He walked to the kitchen, grabbed a cold bottle of water from the fridge, and downed half of it in one go, the cool liquid soothing against his dry throat.

Dropping the bottle, he called again. "Baby? You here?" Voice a little louder this time.

There was still nothing.

Worry started flickering in his chest. He moved towards the dark living room and flipped on the light switch.

Nut was sitting there on the couch, leaned forward, hands clasped together.

Hong blinked in worry. He moved forward and found Nut's expression cold as ice. His jaw set hard and eyes were sharp with repressed fury.

Hong's stomach dropped instantly. "Baby?" He called again, voice careful, uncertain. He stepped closer and sat next to him, trying to wrap his hand around Nut, wanting to urge him to open up.

But Nut roughly pushed him away and stood up.

Hong blinked, hurt flashing across his face.."Baby... what's wrong?"

Nut's jaw tightened even harder. He levelled a cold glare at Hong and his voice came out low with warning. "You have to be very careful what you say to me next, Hong."

Hong's heart quickened. It pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears.

What happened?

Had he messed up?

Had someone talked?

Was the lie about the case already falling apart?

Sweat prickled on the back of his neck, and a thick lump settled in his throat. He waited, silent, afraid if he spoke, he might say the wrong thing and make things worse.

Nut stared at him. "Who owns the cars in the garage?"

Fuck!!!

Since he partnered with Nut, Hong had been parking the car at his driveway for easier access.

He had completely forgotten about the other ones he stored like secrets.

The Bentley, the Rolls-Royce, the Porsche.

His mouth went dry.

Nut voice was steelly. "I didn't know someone like you could afford things like that on a cop's salary. Matter of fact, this house too. How, Hong?"

Hong shook his head quickly, panic clawing up his throat. "Nut, it's not what you think. Please—"

Nut jaw clenched at the lie. He exploded, voice harsh. "You have a Bentley, Hong! A Bentley, a Rolls Royce and a Porsche in your house! And you're telling me it's not what I think?!? I thought you were different. I thought you were honest!"

The words hit Hong like punches to his chest. But he took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself.

He could still fix this.

He could still get out of this.

"Baby, please just listen. You've got it all mixed up. They're not mine. They belong to my best friend."

Nut let out a bitter laugh. "Your best friend? You mean the one you don't talk to anymore? Really?"

"Yes..." Hong insisted, voice cracking. "We used to live together until he moved out. He's into stocks and investments and shit. And he's doing really well for himself. He left the cars here because his new condo doesn't really have space."

Nut stared at him, eyes narrowed with anger and disbelief. "Do I look fucking stupid, Hong?!? I don't believe you." He hissed coldly.

Hong's chest tightened with panic. His hands started trembling. "Why won't you trust me? After everything?"

"It's awfully convenient..." Nut shot back. "Too convenient, Hong."

Hong felt the ground shifting under him. Desperation rose like storm in him. "It's the truth. I swear." His voice broke.

"Then call him..." Nut demanded, crossing his arms. "Right now. Prove it to me."

Hong nearly choked. His heart slammed against his ribs.

He felt cornered, trapped like a rat.

He only had three choices.

He could decide not to call at all, to lie. But Nut would leave. And he would never believe him again.

That wasn't a choice. Not to him.

He could call Will.

If he called him, William might cover for him. But then, Will would see how deep this relationship had gone. How much it now meant to Hong.

He would use it to trap Hong.

Or worse, he would try to hurt Nut.

He couldn't let that happen.

Tui, his final choice... Tui hated him now.

One wrong word and everything could crumble.

He would lose his freedom, this future and most importantly of all, Nut.

His love.

Hot, desperate tears began to prick his eyes. "I'm not on talking terms with Tui..." Hong said weakly. "I already told you that."

Angry disappointment filled Nut's face. He turned and started moving away. "I can't do this." He grabbed his jacket and started walking towards the door.

Pure terror flooded Hong.

"Nut— please wait!" Hong chased after him, grabbing his arm, breathing too fast. Tears started slipping down his cheeks. "I'll call him. Please don't leave. Please."

Nut stopped, still scowling. The cold look on his face didn't even soften a bit at Hong's tears. "Call him then." He said, eyes sharp as daggers.

Hong stared at him for a long moment.

Nut waited, growing impatient by the second.

Then reaching slowly, Hong pulled out his phone from his pocket, hands shaking badly. His heart pounded so violently he began to feel dizzy. He felt like could throw up any moment.

If this went wrong, Nut would walk away.

Or worse— he dig deeper and uncover everything. The citadel, the drug deals, the deaths, the blood on his hands.

And then he would put him away like an animal.

That would be the end for Hong.

He couldn't lose Nut.

Not him.

Nut was the only truly good thing he had left in his life.

He dialed Tui with trembling fingers, waiting as the line rang.

"Put it on speaker." Nut demanded.

Hong's breathing shook. He tapped the speaker icon with a trembling finger.

The line kept ringing.

Hong prayed desperately, with everything sacred to let it go to voicemail.

Please don't pick up. Please don't pick up.

Please...

The call clicked then.

Shit.

"Hello?" Tui's voice was sharp and guarded.

Hong looked at Nut, whose gaze stayed icy. He took a deep, shaky breath, cleared his throat and swallowed. "Hey, Tui."

"What do you want, Hong?" Tui asked flatly.

Hong's voice wavered. "Uhm... i'm so sorry for calling this late. So, uhm... the thing is, I'm in a bit of a pickle right now." He laughed shakily, fingers fidgeting."My partner— the guy I'm seeing right now, he came over and saw the cars in the garage. I'm trying to explain they're not mine but yours, but he doesn't believe me. So I'm calling."

There was a pause after that.

It might have been a mere second, but to Hong, it felt endless, like a rubber band, stretching thinner and thinner, waiting to snap.

Hong's heart ruptured in his chest. Sweat slicked his forehead and fear choked him so much it became hard to breathe.

How he didn't pass out was still baffling to him.

Tui finally spoke up. "Oh, okay. What's his name? Is he over there now?"

Hong almost sobbed with relief.

Almost.

But he held it in. "Yes. His name his Nut."

"Okay... Give him the phone."

Hong walked over and handed it over to Nut with trembling fingers.

Tui's voice came through clearly. "Hey, Nut."

Nut greeted him stiffly, still eyeing Hong suspiciously. "Hey."

"So... Hong told me you were confused about the cars." Tui said calmly. "Yeah, they're mine."

"All three?"

"Yeah." Tui chuckled. "The Bentley, Rolls, and Porsche are mine. I used to live with him and my new place doesn't really have the space for all of them. But if it's an issue and you need the parking space, I can have them taken to a garage or something."

Nut's stoic expression softened slightly, the tight lines around his mouth fading. He pinched the bridge of his nose, embarrassment slowly creeping up. "No, I don't. I was just... surprised. That's all."

Tui replied smoothly. "Oh okay. Glad I cleared that up."

"Yeah. Thanks." Nut said.

"No problem."

Nut handed the phone back to Hong.

Hong took it off speaker and walked a few steps away, voice barely holding together. "Thanks, Tui."

Tui's tone softened slightly. "You know I still hate your ass... but I would never throw you under the bus like that."

Hong sighed, relived. "Yeah, thanks."

Tui paused for a moment. "You must like him alot."

A sob caught in Hong's throat. He glanced back at Nut, whose shoulders were rounded. "I do, Tui..." He rasped. "I really fucking love him."

Nut looked away, embarrassed.

Tui breathed on the other end, letting the words hang. Then: "Hong I know you've done some pretty shitty things... but I also know, deep down you're a good person. You can still change, live a better life."

"I know... i'm trying Tui. I really am..." Hong whispered, tears rolling freely now.

"Then I guess that's enough." Tui said.

Hong could sense the relief in his voice. "I miss you." He confessed.

Tui sighed heavily. "I miss you too."

"Come over soon? So we can catch up?"

"Yeah, we should."

There was a comfortable pause on the other end. Then: "Good night, Hong."

"Good night, Tui." Hong said and ended the call.

The room settled into heavy silence.

Hong's heart kept thudding in his throat, and his legs felt weak, threatening to give in.

Nut broke the quiet first, voice small, ashamed. "I'm sorry."

Hong made a small sound that was half sob, half relief. He reached up and wiped his face. "It's okay."

"No, it's not..." Nut said, stepping closer. "I know you, Hong. You've done nothing but show me how much I can trust you. But I keep messing up. I'm sorry."

Hong moved to him then, but his voice broke completely. "No baby... you had every right to ask. I know how it must have looked." His arms trembled despite himself as the fear wouldn't leave.

It stayed, coiled deep inside his gut, a reminder that this was only just the beginning.

Nut grabbed him then and pulled him into a tight hug, shushing him gently. "I'm sorry." He buried his face into Hong's hair, murmuring soft apologies.

Hong held him tight, whole body trembling. Despite his effort to calm down, to hide himself, the tears kept pouring out, hot and unstoppable.

All the desperation, the terror of losing this— him, it crashed over him.

Nut pulled back slightly, eyes regretful. "Baby.... you're shaking."

That was it.

Hong broke completely, sobbing loudly. The crying turned deep and ugly, heaving sobs that hurt his chest.

All his fear poured out him

What if Nut had left?

What if he found out everything about the citadel, about William?

He would lose everything.

Somehow, Nut had become his light, his only hope for a future.

And everything felt so fragile right now.

Nut wiped his tears tenderly with both thumbs. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm sorry." He kissed Hong deeply, swallowing his sobs, pouring all his love and apology into it.

When they broke apart, Nut kissed all over his face— his nose, his cheeks, his wet eyes— soft and reassuring. "I'm sorry. And i'm so ashamed. I should have trusted your words. Please forgive me. I promise I won't ever hurt you like this again."

Hong nodded fast and weak, still crying.

Then he pulled Nut into another hug, holding him tight for a long time, as though he would disappear if he let go.

Nut rubbed his back in slow, soothing circles, silently begging for forgiveness.

Hong melted into his touch, heart slowly settling back to normal pace.

But deep down inside, he was more than terrified.

This? This was a much-needed slap of clarity.

He had almost lost Nut tonight.

Over cars. Over the slightest implications of a dirty act.

It had been real.

And it was terrifying.

If Nut could almost walk out, over something as trivial as this, what would happen if he discovered the full truth?

His deceit, the bodies, the blood money, his deep dark secrets with William.

He would leave and never look back.

He would ruin Hong.

Hong decided then, he had to leave this life behind. Fast.

He needed to cut ties, go clean, and move forward. Actually build something real with Nut.

But William....

William wasn't a simple block he could walk past.

William was dangerous. William was too fucking powerful.

And William fucking hated cops.

Had it been anyone else, he might have considered it.

But he would never give in for someone like Nut.

And if Hong decided to leave anyways, that could cost him more than his freedom— it might cost lives.

His own.

Nut's.

That thought haunted him even as Nut held him close.

Hong clung tighter, fear and desperation twisting like jagged knives in his heart.

He loved Nut too much to lose him.

But escaping the shadows he had stepped into a long time ago had severe consequences.

It might already be impossible.

__________________________________

Idk I feel off about this one. I hope you liked it. Lmk what you think ://