kinktober day 29: corruption
pairing: ted garcia x fem!reader warnings: nsfw, playing at a power dynamic in a boss/employee way, semi-public sex, confession, & secret fwb type relationship a/n: this one just felt right
"You get all that, sweetheart?" Your boss asked from across the space, sipping at a mug of coffee in the kitchen.
"Yes, sir. I have all the details I need." You confirmed, setting your pen and notebook into your bag and smiling over at him.
"Good. Glad we could get the work out of the way." He replied. "Would you like some coffee? Breakfast? I know it's early and I appreciate you comin' over so quick to get this done."
"Of course, sir. Could I please just have some coffee?"
"Cream, sugar?"
It was funny seeing the famed mayor of the small town being so domestic, making you a coffee just how you liked it. You were his press and marketing person, representing the mayor's office and curating his public image. A lot of your time was spent around him to make sure you communicated his messages accurately and guided him how to present his ideas in an appealing way to the constituents.
Seeing all sides and complexities of the mayor, you couldn't help but admire him a bit. The way he handled all the problems that were brought up to him, from the people and from the higher levels of New Mexico government. His care for his son, even if it wasn't exactly perfect. How he tried to stay as caught up on all the social, economic, and political issues across the country, not just in his own little area.
But it wouldn't have been professional to say anything to him about it. Besides, the mayor had been through enough with his wife leaving him and his son out of the blue one day. You never heard him talk about a relationship aside from that, so you assumed he wasn't interested in pursuing one.
You... wanted to. You knew it was foolish having what was probably just a proximity crush on your boss. You also wouldn't have even known what to do if he had made a move on you before. Much of your life, you were bookish and busy with other things. Your friends provided all the company you really needed.
Sure, you'd been in a few relationships before, but they were lackluster and short-lived. Boys were a waste of time, never able to compete with your level of maturity, intellect, fun, and stability. Maybe that was why your boss drew your attention - he was able to check all of those boxes. Plus, he was charming. And handsome.
But you were still professional, sticking to politeness and just doing what he asked you to do with your full effort. He appreciated your work and you both collaborated well together. Nothing else really existed beyond that level of partnership.
The mayor handed you the mug of coffee and you thanked him quietly, feeling a stupid rush spread through your abdomen at the light brush of your fingers. Your face felt warm as he sat down at the opposite side of the couch from you, setting his mug down on the table before laying back on the cushions. Acting nonchalant, you took a sip from your mug.
"I... I'm sorry if this is crossing the line, but as your boss, I feel like it's important for me to know how you're doing outside of work." He started, drawing your panicked attention away from the coffee. "Like, personally, mental health, family stuff, all of it. We have a small office, but I want you to know that I'm here for you."
You smiled sincerely at him, "That's kind of you and I'm here for you too, sir."
"We're in my house, sweetheart, you can call me by my name." He teased you. "And you didn't answer my question."
Taking in a careful breath, you made sure your words didn't reveal too much as you replied: "Well, I've had a few rough days but I've been able to handle them and get through... my friends have been helpful in just letting me rant to them for a while. But that's really it."
"I'm glad to hear you have a support system like that." He spoke, his head tilted sideways to convey sympathy and attentive listening. "How about family?"
"I talk to them when I need to, just checking in and stuff."
"That's good." He began, still sounding like a therapist. "Any kind of relationship drama, past or present?"
Your brows knit together at the unexpected question, "Mm, no, not at all."
"I'm glad. I was hoping that you weren't struggling to make people happy or spend time with them being tied up at my office all the time. It's a demanding job, some partners don't understand it."
You saw a hint of vulnerability seeping through his eyes, practiced or maybe genuine, but it tugged at your heart. The mayor made a bittersweet smile and laughed off the quiet that had fallen between you two.
"Well, enough about me being sappy." He smiled, taking another sip of coffee. "What do you have planned for the weekend?"
"Nothing much, mostly just catching up on things at home." You replied vaguely, then switched topics back. "What made you think I had a partner pining after me all the time while I'm at work?"
His brows raised and he let out a slow breath, steadying himself before answering a tough question the way you'd seen him do in front of audiences before. He set his hands over his legs, looking downward as he came up with the right words to say. Then, he looked back up to your gaze.
"I wasn't really... assuming. I was trying to get an answer on something I was curious about."
You blinked, "Si- Ted, look, I've worked with you long enough to notice when you're avoiding a question."
He let out a slightly-embarrassed chuckle, "You're right... you're right on the nose. Well, fine, I won't give you a diplomatic answer. If this sounds... shitty, it's because I haven't thought about how to express this. Usually it's your job to tell me how to say things right. I asked about your personal life because I wanted to know if you had a partner at all, not about how they might've felt about your work."
"Well, I don't at the moment."
He nodded, "I got that, I just... that was all I wanted to know."
You couldn't believe the thought that was starting to dawn on you. After a few years of silently admiring him, keeping things strictly professional, and never having hope for anything to change, he was saying this to you. The mayor wanted to know if you were single or not. You couldn't help the smile starting to form over your lips no matter how strong your facade was.
"Why's that?" You prodded further, hoping to get a confession out of him.
His gaze fell again as he truthfully answered your question: "I've been thinking about what it'd be like. Me and you. Didn't wanna ruin anything at work, but I was sure you'd catch on soon enough. You're a smart woman."
The only thing you could think of saying in response, was to make your own confession to him. That was how you ended up kissing on his couch: at first, gentle and experimenting, then finding a rhythm that seemed to grow more intense with every second. His hands felt your body over your clothes, finally fulfilling all those guilty, dirty fantasies he indulged in on a nightly basis.
Clothes were strewn in an uneven trail across the floors, leading from the sofa to his bedroom. When he had you lay back over the pillows, you kept your legs bent and knees together. It seemed too exposed, even though this was exactly what you'd wanted for so long.
The mayor slid his hand between your thighs and looked down at your wide eyes with a concerned look. His windows were covered, sunlight streaming through the burnt orange curtains. You took a breath as he glanced over your frame, looking for any physical sign of trouble.
"What's the matter? You seem nervous... you don't have to do this, you know? We can stop right now if you don't want this." He reminded you.
"No, I want this. I just... it's been a while. I don't have a lot of experience. But I want to do this with you."
"Yeah?" He smiled, massaging your inner thigh. "Well, baby, you're gonna have to open up for me a little if you want me to keep going."
You took in a slow breath then let him guide your body into a relaxed position. He was gentle, directing your movement and making his own without startling you or going too far too fast. A hand smoothing down along your side and squeezing at your hip once he reached it, just enough to make you squeal lightly.
"You're doing good so far, sweetheart. You'll tell me if something isn't okay, got it?"
"Yes, Mister Mayor." You teased, starting to get just a little more comfortable.
That first occasion in the late morning, after taking care of some mundane business with him, you started to feel more open. Daring, in a way. Like that interaction and the permission you granted each other then, allowed you to explore that part of yourself.
Suddenly you were grabbing him by his bolo tie and tugging him into a fully isolated office, locking the door behind. Stopping by his home in the evening, an official-looking folder tucked under your arm as an excuse to visit, only for your interaction to go on in his bedroom. Asking him to bring something to your place if you knew his son would be home.
Ted seemed stunned every time it happened, kissing you back through your whirlwind of movement. The big, shiny belt buckle was easily unlatched in your hands as he reached for you. Something startled and wild glimmered in his dark eyes when you flirted with him more overtly, or if you brought up something knew you wanted to try with him.
Part of the fun was the risk, knowing you could be caught. That the handsome, older man who stood tall as mayor of the town was giving it to you good and any way you asked him to. That you, the woman who stood pristinely professional beside him, could ride him until the sun came up. And no one knew.
He held you within the sheets of your bed, pressing a kiss to your overheated forehead. His usually well-coiffed hair was mussed with curled strands framing his flushed face. Your head rested over the pillow like it was a plush cloud, more comfortable than it had ever been.
Earlier, you pulled his broad hand to your throat and your eyes rolled back at the light restriction of air. Seeing you like that poured a spout of ferocious energy through Ted's body that he rarely possessed otherwise. Whatever this was and however it started, it worked. He smoothed a hand over your head as your eyes lidded drowsily.
"I'm happy you changed me." You murmured softly, not really thinking through your words in the afterglow of the night.
He snorted, "Baby, you changed me a helluva lot more than I changed you. I think you've always had all this in you, just needed some help bringing it out."
You shook your head and playfully accused him: "No, I think you made me like this. You corrupted the poor, innocent public affairs correspondent of your office. Shame on you, abusing your power like that, Mister Mayor."
"You wish that it was something of mine that had gotten into you and made you like this."
"Don't be silly, Ted. You did just get into me. And yesterday, in the public records archives. And two days before that, in your shower... should I go on about how you've gotten into me?"
He shook his head in amusement and pressed another kiss to your forehead, "Get to sleep, trouble, I'll clean you up and join you in a minute."