A Soul's Caress: Breathe

A Dare and A Dance

"Dude! Who do you keep staring at?" Everett asked as he scanned the people seated at the bar.

"No one," Zayne answered shyly.

"Really? Then why do I keep talking to the back of your head?"

Now they were all looking at the bar. Most of the patrons sitting there were enjoying their drinks and conversation. A handful of others fought for a place at the rail, waving their money in front of them hoping to be the next satisfied customer. The four officers searched through the line of partygoers trying to find the person who had caught their friend's eye.

"Stop!" Zayne shouted. "I'm not looking at anyone."

"Like hell you're not," Chris teased. "I've been watching you for the past half hour and you keep staring at the bar. Just tell us which of those hot chicks is going home with you tonight and we'll help you sweet talk her. Chicks are suckers for cops."

Zayne rolled his eyes at the young man with a buzz cut and took another sip of his whiskey. He had already had too much to drink but he refused to let his demons speak even a whisper tonight.

"Come on, Sketch!" Everett whined. He wrapped his arm around Zayne's shoulders, pulling the intoxicated man closer. "If you don't tell us, we're just going to go up to every woman standing there and ask her if she wants to sleep with our friend, the music teacher."

"Oh god, no!"

Jonah stepped in front of Zayne and waited for unfocused gray eyes to look at him. When they did, he held out a fresh glass of Jameson to the inebriated man.

"I dare you to go over there and ask the object of your desire for her number," he challenged with a smirk. "If you do, you get this. However, if you refuse, I'll post the video that I secretly took of you singing tonight on five dating websites."

"What the fuck?" Zayne yelled over the noise of the music.

The other officers patted Jonah on the back and laughed hysterically at the unfortunate dilemma their sketch artist now found himself in.

"Oh, just do it, will ya'?" Matt begged.

Jonah smiled. "What do you have to lose except maybe your...virginity?"

"Fuck you, Jonah!" Zayne snapped as he swiped the drink from the unsuspecting man's hand and downed it in one gulp.

The group gawked at him with their jaws dropped in shock.

Before the rational side of his brain could stop him, Zayne walked unsteadily in the direction of the crowded bar. A few steps away from the row of occupied stools he turned his head and saw his companions placing bets amongst themselves out of the corner of his eye.

Well, there was no point in stopping now. So, with a resigned shake of his head he closed the distance to the bar with five long strides.

Zayne stopped behind a tall blonde woman with curves most men would sell their souls to run their hands over. Slowly, he pivoted to his right and gave the young men egging him on a side glance....then shook his head with a smirk.

"Dammit!" Chris yelled and punched Matt's arm.

"I like him when he's drunk," Jonah admitted.

"I bet it's the redhead in the green dress." Everett pointed out. "She's got legs for miles, just like Sketch."

The four continued to watch with anticipation as Zayne took a few steps to his left and settled himself between a man in a black leather jacket and a young woman whose little sequined dress didn't leave much to the imagination. He smiled at her and she smiled back.