Roomies in Arms - Part 26

Everyone in this story is 18+

I blinked. “Yes, sure. And he wants to be President of the United States. Though, frankly, that wouldn’t surprise me. But be serious.”

“I am fucking serious,” Bryson said.

Lex paused mid-chew on a suspicious-looking berry. “Define hooker.”

Bryson glanced between us, lowered his voice. “Strategic seduction. Officially. Trial asset placement. CIA and MI6.”

“I can’t really say too much. Even with the NDA,” he added darkly.

“I see,” I said flatly. “So you’ve agreed to become a gay honeypot for king and country? Not even your king.”

“It’s not like that,” he muttered.

“Isn’t it?”

He hesitated. “...Maybe a little.”

Lex tried and failed not to laugh.

“Explain,” I said. “Slowly. Preferably without acronyms.”

Bryson sighed. “There’s this French guy. A socialite. Technically legal, questionably ethical. He hosts these... influencer retreats. Think yacht orgies meets international tax evasion. They think he’s laundering money through shell companies and luxury events.”

“Sounds made up,” I said.

“It’s not. There was a dossier. With footnotes.”

Lex gave a low whistle. “So you’re meant to flirt with him until he spills state secrets?”

“Pretty much. They think I fit the profile. Rich. Well-connected. Ambassador’s son. Morally flexible — whatever that means.”

Lex blinked. “Wait. Do they know you’re straight?”

Bryson winced. “They... are sending me to what they called ‘strategic re-purposing,’ which I think means gay school.”

Lex grinned. “Honestly? I kind of respect the commitment.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing, Seb,” Bryson admitted, voice quieter now. “But Dad made it very clear this is the only way I get back into his good graces. I thought you might have advice. You... know these people.”

“What people?”

“The gays.”

“Oh for—”

Lex raised a hand. “We’ll help. But maybe don’t lead with ‘gay hooker’ when you meet the guy.”

Bryson nodded, solemn. “Right. So... should I get a harness? Or is that too obvious?”

I groaned. “I need another NDA just to survive this conversation.”

Bryson suddenly noticed our hands.

Mine and Lex’s — fingers casually laced, without even thinking about it. It just... came naturally now, I suppose.

He blinked. “So, you guys are finally an item? About time. Honestly, the way you two eye-fucked each other was obscene.”

I didn’t even look at him. “Bryson, you're literally Dad’s hooker for clout with the US government.”

“Wait, what?”

“You’re really dense sometimes. Don’t you get that’s what this is? He’s whoring you out to the CIA. Probably in exchange for some favour down the line. Obviously he couldn’t get anyone else to do it. But you? You’re the ambassador’s son, you get invited to all the right parties, you already have a reputation — wild party boy, general menace, the sex tape that revealed your... well, let’s call it ‘considerable asset.’”

Bryson stared at me. “Fuck. You’re right.”

“I mean. Do you not know our father? Of course he’s going to try to take control of Astra too. I knew it — but I didn’t have a choice if I wanted him to sign off on me using my inheritance. But me, Lex, the others — we’ll find a way to outsmart him. You’ll have to do the same, Bryson.”

“Jesus. Are you sure you’re my baby brother and not some kind of terrifying corporate algorithm? What happened to you wanting to run off and join the circus?”

“Priorities change,” I said coolly. “I listen. You should try it sometime. You need to outsmart Father — beat him at his own game.”

Bryson slumped into the couch like he’d just been hit by a particularly clever PowerPoint slide. “But how? I’m like... aggressively, terminally straight. How the hell am I supposed to pull this off?”

Lex, deadpan: “Just think of yourself as an actor. Like, instead of a hot girl, it’s a dude. But imagine him as a hot girl.”

Bryson blinked. “That actually kind of helps.”

I folded my arms. “Honestly, he would’ve used me for this whole thing if it weren’t for your little scandalous cinematic debut. But now you’re damaged goods — so he’s rebranding you as a state-sanctioned asset.”

Bryson flinched. “I still can’t believe he’s serious about this.”

“I can. And frankly, you should’ve seen it coming.”

He ran a hand through his already-disheveled hair. “I genuinely thought he was gonna make me do the unpaid intern thing for a while. You know — bring coffee, fix the copier, take minutes, slowly die inside. Not—”

He threw his hands in the air. “—get ambushed into becoming a gay hooker.”

Lex, helpfully: “Technically, you're being seconded into strategic seduction.”

Bryson just groaned into a throw pillow.

“I mean, it’s either male escort or getting cut off,” I said, sitting back against the armrest. “And honestly, Bryson — I don’t think you’d be very good at being homeless.”

Bryson groaned.

“You know full well how Father structured the trust funds. He has full control until we’re thirty-five. He’s got us by the bollocks, to put it bluntly. Our credit cards are in his name. This hotel room? His dime. Your entire lifestyle? Sponsored.”

Lex blinked. “Don’t your moms have money?”

“Not really,” I replied. “Mum has a title and a crumbling estate, but not any real cash. She still needs spousal support to make ends meet. And she’s incredibly spoiled, bless her. She was nearly institutionalized after Father suggested she let go of one of her chauffeurs.”

“True,” Bryson muttered.

“And Bryson’s mum? Former model, shopping addiction, and an airtight prenup. It’s a miracle she can afford avocado toast.”

“FUCK,” Bryson shouted into a decorative cushion.

“But,” I said, more calmly now, “if I manage to pull this off — Astra, I mean — and somehow get Father out of it eventually... maybe I could become independent. Properly. And if you spin this gay spy drama the right way and stay in his good graces, I’ll help you.”

Bryson looked up.

“I mean it. We could probably bring you into Astra. It’s already a ragtag collective of chaos. You and Hunter might actually get along.”

Bryson blinked. “Wait—Hunter Maddox? That’s your associate?”

“Yes?”

“I love that guy’s style. Follow him on Insta. I actually bought that gold tiger hoodie he posted.”

I stared at him. “Of course you did.”

Just then, Lex’s phone buzzed. He glanced down. “It’s Hunter. He wants us back.”

I stood up and adjusted my jacket. “Right. Time to go before he tries to seduce Asher again. Or worse — sell Astra to Elon Musk.”

I turned to Bryson as we reached the door. “I’ll send you something from Amazon that might help with... your rebranding.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“And we’re taking a cab,” I said firmly, pulling Lex toward the hall. “I’m not getting murdered or infected on the bloody tube.”

Lex just smiled, entranced — somewhere between awe and arousal. Probably both.
And I didn’t mind.

Hey everyone! Roomies in Arms is wrapping up soon, but I’ve got a question for you—would you be into a gay spy thriller featuring Bryson at 'gay school' and more about his whole gay seduction thing? Let me know in the comments!