Page 153 of Craving Venom

He barely looks at me. “Toppings?”

“Extra cheese, extra sauce, and every fucking pepper you’ve got.”

That makes him glance up. “You want it spicy?”

“Yes.”

His fingers hover over the screen. “We can do extra spicy.”

“Do it.”

I hear the buzz of my phone, but I don’t pick it up.

I just let it ring, like I’ve been doing for the last twelve hours.

My eyes flick down to the screen, catching the message that came in five hours ago.

I’m going to call you one last time. If you ignore it, I’m going to set up an exhibition of the eyes of men who’ve had the privilege of your attention.

He’s not serious. He’s just trying to get in my head. He’s locked up and he can’t do anything. But I can’t stop staring at the message.

Should I pick up?

I hesitate with my thumb hovering over the screen, but before I can make a decision, the call stops buzzing.

Just then, Tria nudges me, pulling me back. “Faith? You okay?”

I blink, glancing up. The guy behind the counter is glowering at me.

Tria huffs, pointing at him. “He’s been waiting for an answer.”

I look from her to the guy, then back at her, feigning ignorance. “What did he ask?”

Tria sighs, rolling her eyes. “How spicy do you want it.”

I meet the guy’s gaze and answer. “Three times.”

“You sure? That level of spice comes with a waiver.”

I narrow my eyes. “Put it on my damn plate.”

He shrugs, punching it in.

“And a Diet Coke.”

Behind me, Tria lets out a low whistle. “Who pissed you off enough to make you self-destruct with food?”

I pull my card out, tapping it against the reader as my fingers drum impatiently on the surface, still too keyed up, still ready to break something. “No one, really. I just went to burn off some energy in the gym, and it wasn’t enough.”

Tria snorts. “So you went to the gym, and now you’re eating pizza?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Because I went to the gym, I can eat pizza.”

She snorts but doesn’t drop it. “Okay, but three times? Are you trying to summon a demon?”

I grab my receipt and tuck it into my pocket before turning to her with a flat look. “Try having an orgasm in a room full of snakes.”

The moment the words leave my mouth, I know I’ve fucked up.

---