Joel had been watching you for a while.

Not tense. Not brooding. Just quiet, leaning against the bar with his glass, eyes tracking the way you laughed a little too bright at something Simon said. The way you tipped your chin, let your hand linger a second longer than it needed to.

You were being a menace.

And he knew it.

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn’t interrupt right away. He let it play out, let you wonder if he’d react, because he could see the little glances you kept sneaking toward him — checking, waiting, poking the bear just a little.

When you brushed daniels arm again, Joel finally pushed off the counter.

He didn’t rush. Didn’t storm. Just walked over with that steady, unhurried stride that always made your stomach flip.

Simon noticed first. “Oh— hey, Joel.”

Joel gave a small nod, then looked at you — not angry, not cold. Just focused. Intent.

“Mind if I borrow her?” he asked, voice low and even.

Daniel, sensing the shift but not threatened, lifted his hands. “All yours.”

Joel’s hand slid around your wrist, not rough, just firm enough to guide. He didn’t say a word until you were a few steps away from the crowd, the noise dimming behind you.

Then he leaned in, close enough that you felt his breath at your temple.

“You havin’ fun?” he murmured.

You tried to sound innocent. “Maybe.”

A quiet huff of a laugh left him — not amused at Daniel, but at you. “You think I don’t know that look?”

Your pulse picked up, but there was no fear in it. Just heat. “What look?”

“The one where you’re tryin’ to get me worked up,” he said, thumb brushing slow over your knuckles. “Reckon you succeeded.”

You glanced up, searching his face for anger — but all you found was that familiar intensity, steady and controlled, the kind that always meant he was very aware of you.

“You mad?” you asked softly.

Joel shook his head once. “No.” His voice dropped a fraction. “But I wasn’t gonna compete with some kid in the middle of a bar either.”

Heat crawled up your neck. “I wasn’t—”

“I know what you were doin’,” he said, not unkindly. His thumb traced a slow line along your wrist. “Just wanted my attention.”

You didn’t deny it.

He studied you for a second, the edge in his gaze softening into something warmer, almost fond. “Next time,” he said quietly, “you can just come stand next to me.”

Your lips curved. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Joel’s mouth tipped into a faint, crooked smile — rare, but real. “You really wanna test that tonight?”

The way he said it sent a little shiver down your spine, but it was playful, grounded. No anger under it, just that steady presence that made everything feel contained.

his hand grips the back of your neck with your hair,not enough to hurt but enough to feel the possesiveness in him.He then moves his face closer to your ear to murmer next to it

“You got 2 minutes to say your goodbyes to your little friend then were goin home.”

You knew what was gonna happen,the only punishment that was gonna happen will be with his hands,claiming you back like always.