Blood and Chocolate ✓

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Gabriel held the door open for Sam this time as they entered Danny's Sweet Shop. The décor was black and white with the only color accents being a few hanging flowers along the ceiling and the display case full of baked goods and boxes of handmade chocolate. The smell of sugar dominated the air.

Gabriel hurried past Sam to the display case, and just then, a boy in his early twenties or late teens popped out from the bakery with a tray of chocolate éclairs. "How may I help you two, today?" He smiled like a gracious host as he slid the tray of goodies into the display case.

"You wouldn't happen to be David, would you?" Sam asked.

The young man nodded, and a second later Sam produced his FBI badge.

The boy went ridged.

Gabriel chuckled. "Give me one of those éclairs for free and I will keep my buddy from roughing you up, kiddo."

"Gabriel," Sam chastised.

"It's okay." The boy waved off Sam's anger, although he still looked like he was going to scream and runaway at any second. "It's my first time making éclairs, so I really could use a taste-tester."

Gabriel slammed his hands on the display case. "I'm your man, kid."

Sam shook his head, but did not protest when David took out a flimsy sheet of paper and grabbed one of the éclairs for Gabriel. Gabriel didn't even have the éclair in his hand for a second before he stuffed it into his face. He hummed in delight. "Delicious, kid." He winked at David.

David's hand reached up to scratch the back of his head sheepishly, but he stopped himself at the last moment. He'd probably remembered at the last moment the possible health violation touching his head could cause.

"We were hoping you could tell us a bit about your boss Lotta Heartwell." From the corner of his eye Sam watched Gabriel enjoy each bite of éclair he took.

David nodded his head vigorously. "What do you want to know?"

Sam inquired into Lotta's relationships with the victims and murderers. He'd expected at least one hostile story, but David was quick to confirm that Lotta had no enemies. There were a few townsfolk who were wary of her, but that was the extent of any negativity toward her, at least, any that was known. "Would you say, her potions work?"

David's face scrunched. "Honestly, it depends who you ask. She says that you can't use the stuff to make someone fall in love with you against their will, so some people just think it is a placebo effect."

Gabriel nodded. "Very possible."

"And what about you?" Sam pressed.

There was flash of emotion in David's eyes that disappeared too quickly for Sam to indentify. "It's real."

"Do you know what she uses in her potions?" Sam asked

"No idea. I'm just a cashier."

Sam asked a few more questions, but remained unsatisfied. He shook his head when Gabriel bought four more éclairs before leaving. He seemed to sense Sam's disapproval because he smirked right before he offered to buy Sam one too, which Sam swiftly declined.

Sam's phone rang as he stepped out of the sweets shop with Gabriel, who was contentedly munching on his second éclair. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Sam recognized Dean's number and answered. "What did you find?"

"Nothing. Girl came home to find a severed hand in the chocolate box, screams, then sees roommate's mouth is covered in blood and has skin sticking between her teeth."

"Did she know if her roommate believed in magic or anything of the sort?"

"Yeah. Girl was a skeptic. Haven't checked out the guy yet."

Sam nodded, despite his displeasure. If the murderer was a skeptic and the boy turned out to be one too, chances were neither one ever bought anything from Lotta, and if one couple wasn't connected to Lotta—even if the rest were—then Lotta's ranking on the suspect list would drop. Technically, it already had, if she really was just a home-remedy kind of witch.

"What about the witch?" Dean asked.

"Hard to say. Seems pretty harmless, according to Gabriel, although her employee certainly thinks her magic is real."

"All right. We'll look into her more. Meet you back at the hotel." Dean hung up.

Sam returned his phone to his pocket. He paused as he pulled his hand away when he caught sight of Gabriel pulling another éclair out of his take out bag. "Are you eating another one already? What is that? Three?"

"Four." Bits of éclair spewed out of Gabriel's mouth as he talked.

Sam grimaced. "You make me want to vomit just thinking about that."

Gabriel grinned cheekily, and took a purposefully big bite of his éclair, chewing it slowly in front of Sam.

"Gross, man." Sam shoved Gabriel's shoulder.

"You won't be saying that when I get you alone later."

Sam opened his mouth to point out they were alone right then, but shut it quickly. He was not going to invite Gabriel to pounce on him in the middle of sidewalk where anyone and everyone could witness their affair.

Sam enjoyed the peaceful stroll through the small town, and although he would never admit it aloud, he was thankful that Gabriel had bought an excess amount of éclairs, because eating the remaining two served as a wonderful distraction for Gabriel, who would otherwise have made a point to complain about the walk. Sam swore Gabriel complained about such mundane things just to get attention.

Gabriel crumpled the take out bag between his hands and tossed it over his shoulder into a nearby garbage can. He licked his fingertips and hummed exaggeratedly, letting his gaze drift toward Sam.

Sam chuckled at the cheesy seduction tactic. His laugh was cut off with a barely audible gasp as two hands gripped his waist, fingertips dipped over the edge of his jeans and boxers brushing against his skin. Then Gabriel was pressed against his back, with his head titled up so his breath ghosted the back of Sam's neck. The hand threatening to yank his pants off, uncurled and slid up his shirt and touched muscles and flesh there.

The hotel was within sight, and Dean would probably stop off somewhere to get food.

Sam slipped his hand under his shirt and laced his fingers through Gabriel's. He squeezed Gabriel's hand then took off at a rushed pace toward the hotel, tugging Gabriel along behind him.

Gabriel laughed, and Sam grinned.

He was going to enjoy the next half hour thoroughly.