"Jealousy in the Air"

A few days had passed since their blissful day of passion, and Esme was now sitting at her desk, working as an accountant from home. However, her friend had called her earlier, asking for her help at the bar. Esme had agreed, and now she was busy making drinks and chatting with the regulars. Her thick, curly hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was wearing a simple white t-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. Despite her casual attire, she still looked beautiful, and Joel couldn't help but feel a surge of pride when he saw her. As he waited for her to finish, Joel sipped on a drink that one of the bartenders had offered him. He sat at the counter, his eyes fixed on Esme as she worked. She was laughing and joking with the customers, her eyes sparkling with confidence and beauty. However, as he watched her, Joel couldn't help but feel a growing sense of protectiveness and jealousy. He noticed how much attention she was getting from the other men at the bar, how they were all staring at her, and he felt a knot form in his stomach. Esme, oblivious to the attention she was receiving, only had eyes for Joel. She smiled and waved at him, and he could see the excitement in her eyes when she finally finished her shift. Ten minutes later, she was done, and they were leaving the bar together. As they walked out, Joel couldn't help but notice that the men were still looking at her, their eyes following her as she walked away. Joel felt a surge of happiness when they were finally in the car, driving away from the bar. He reached out and took Esme's hand, his eyes meeting hers. "I'm glad I was able to pick you up," he said, his voice low and husky. "I was worried about you being here all by yourself." Esme looked at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm a big girl, Joel. I can take care of myself." Joel's grip on her hand tightened. "I know you can, but that doesn't mean I don't worry about you. I saw how many guys were staring at you in there. It made me feel...jealous." Esme's expression softened, and she squeezed his hand. "Oh, Joel, you're overreacting. I didn't even notice them." Joel's face darkened. "That's just it - you didn't even notice them. You're so confident and beautiful, and it makes me feel like I'll lose you if I'm not careful." Esme's expression turned humble, and she looked down at her hands. "Joel, I'm not going anywhere. I love you." Joel's voice rose. "I know you love me, but that doesn't mean I won't feel protective of you. It's my job as your partner to keep you safe." The conversation was starting to escalate into a full-blown argument, and Esme's voice rose to match Joel's. "You're not my partner, Joel. You're my boyfriend, and I can take care of myself." The car ride ended, and they pulled into their driveway in silence. Joel got out of the car and went inside, grabbing a beer from the fridge. Esme went upstairs, her heart still racing from their argument. As she stood under the warm water of the shower, Esme couldn't help but think about how Joel had reacted. She knew he was just trying to protect her, but she couldn't help but feel like he was overreacting. She was an adult, and she could take care of herself. Downstairs, Joel was sitting on the couch, nursing his beer. He couldn't help but feel like he had overreacted, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of jealousy and protectiveness. He thought about Esme, and how beautiful she looked, and he felt a surge of love and desire. Esme came downstairs, freshly showered and wearing a thin black robe. Joel's eyes widened as he saw her, and he felt a surge of desire. "I'm sorry," they both said, at the same time. They smiled, and Joel stood up, his beer forgotten. He walked over to Esme, and they hugged, their bodies pressed together. "I love you," Joel whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. "I love you too," Esme replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Their lips met, and they kissed, their bodies melting into each other. They made love, their passion and desire burning brighter than their argument. As they lay in bed, Joel wrapped his arms around Esme, holding her close. "I'll try to work on my jealousy," he whispered. Esme smiled, her eyes sparkling with love. "And I'll try to understand where you're coming from."