Shameful | Congressman!Kylo x Reader

Chapter 11: Goosebumps

hehe

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We head back onto the road. I resolve that Poe's just trying to scare me, like Ren said. Or maybe he's jealous; I obviously haven't forgotten about how excruciatingly horny and confused he'd leave me back when I worked for him. His approach, though, was worlds different from Ren's.

Poe would always make me feel like I was the only one in the room— and I often was. He'd pull me aside during events, speaking to me in hushed tones, lips nearly curled around the shell of my ear. He made me feel special. He'd lay these traps for me, luring me in with his kind eyes and self-effacing sense of humor. He'd make me feel vulnerable and, at times, a bit desperate. He'd lavish me with praise and make me feel like he truly cared... then he'd go home to his girlfriend. I feel as though it all culminated during our primary watch party, when he asked me to find him later. It was all manipulative in hindsight. I trusted him blindly, and admired him so deeply. But now, I've got a new distraction: Ren.

In a roundabout way, Ren's so much more transparent. He has such a strapping, commanding presence about him. He makes it clear that he wants me. I see the way he looks at me, the way he says my name. And my name has never sounded so fucking good. It's spoken with such intent, such confidence. Rolling so effortlessly from between the lips of a nearly pornographic-looking man. Rather than lavishing me in empty, self-serving praise like Poe did, he lavishes me with clothes and unmentionables fitted to my exact measurements. He's put all of his trust in me to manage his campaign, and I finally feel like an equal.

Ren interrupts my musing, drawling my name. "Whatcha thinking about?"

After a pause, I croak, "Poe's always kind of been an asshole. I'm just now putting two and two together."

"He betrayed you. We always..." he stops to think, as if testing out how different words feel in his mouth. "We always had an idea of the kind of man he truly is."

"We?"

"My team. That's why we filed in the primary."

And the truth finally comes out. Ren's had beef with Poe for longer than I'd thought.

He continues, "I have to admit, I'd been following your work for years," he clears his throat, glancing over at me quickly. "And seeing you waste your time with him was almost laughable."

I tilt my head toward him, brows furrowed.

"No— I mean, you fucking killed it. You made a weak candidate look like a fucking hero. But that was all you. He'd've been nothing without you. Hell, he probably told you that to flatter you, but I mean it. So..."

"So?" I'm listening intently, wringing my hands together.

"So, when I heard rumblings through...my connections... that you were going to head his campaign last year, I went ahead and bought a house in the district to establish residency. It was a close call. When it came to the signatures to get me on the ballot, I went ahead and paid the filing fee instead. And I watched your every move."

"Creepy."

"Creepy, sure. But I waited. I observed you from afar, and fucking knew that you had to be mine," he clears his throat again, correcting himself. "My manager."

His.

"And you won. Like, at the last minute," I grumble.

"Yeah. I did some behind-the-scenes stuff to...sway public opinion."

"I fucking knew you cheated, Ren." I'm not feeling as flattered anymore.

"No, no. Not like that. But you know damn well, networking gets you anywhere. And it got me into this car with you right now. I would have cheated to get you on my team. I'm not even gonna lie. You're a luminary. A fucking household name, even back in D.C."