The first thing you feel when you wake up is Joe’s arm tightly wrapped around you, pulling you against him. He’s not one to let go easily, even in his sleep. His chest is pressed against your back, his breath warm against your neck. There’s a certain possessiveness in the way he holds you, almost as if he’s afraid you might slip away the moment his guard is down. It’s not a question of weakness—far from it—but with Joe, there’s a quiet intensity to everything, and when he’s like this, in the soft stillness of morning, it’s like he’s recharging, ensuring you’re still right there beside him.

You feel his hand rest on your waist, fingers curling slightly, grounding you to him. It’s a comfort, even if he doesn’t always express it openly. When you shift to look at him, his eyes flicker open, the heat in them unmistakable as he pulls you closer, burying his face in your hair. You know he’s got a tough exterior to the world—unshakable, guarded, rarely showing any weakness—but here, with you, he’s different. He lets down that wall. He needs you close, even if he never quite says it out loud.

"Stay," he mumbles, his voice husky from sleep, his grip tightening around you. It’s not a request; it’s a quiet demand, one that makes your heart skip. The way he holds you, as if he can’t get enough, it’s the one place where he lets himself need someone. But as soon as he steps outside the room, the mask is back on.

Joe’s the kind of guy who keeps his emotions locked away in public. He’s tough, commanding, always in control. He’s the one people turn to when things go wrong, the one whose very presence demands respect. His tough guy persona is never broken, and the moments of softness you share behind closed doors are his secret, his quiet rebellion against the hardness he’s built around himself.

Out there, he’s all confidence, all sharp edges and unspoken power. But in here? With you? He’s vulnerable in ways he’ll never show anyone else. He needs you close, and that need is a constant, but he’ll never let the world see it. When you’re together, in your space, he’s clingy and possessive in a way that feels raw and real. But when he walks out the door, he’s back to the unbreakable Joe Tate, the guy who everyone knows to never mess with.