Page 122 of The Bronze Garza

Something darkly arousing unfurls under my skin. “You already know how much I like that.”

“Well, think about that as you eat this slice of pizza,” he tells me.

Frowning, I look down at the slice, then back at him. “But I’ll throw up.”

“I’ll hold your hair.”

“Torin...” I eye the pizza again. “I don’t like the nausea that lingers even after throwing up.”

“I’ll hold you in my arms until it passes.”

Wavering, I lift the pointy end of the slice with one finger. It looks and smells delicious, and my mouth is definitely watering for it. But the aftereffect that I know I’ll suffer makes it equally repulsive to me. “Why are you making me do this, Torin?”

“Because I care.”

But not enough to be upset that this is our last night together? You should be hugging me and making love to me all night long instead of forcing me to eat freaking pizza.

With a resigned sigh, I lift the pizza from the plate and take a bite. Flavors burst on my tongue, and I close my eyes and sigh with all the appreciation in the world. Eyes still closed, I take another bite before I’ve even fully swallowed the first one. “Ohmygod,this is so good.”

“Good. Let me know if you need another slice.”

Oh, I’m definitely going to need another slice.

Opening my eyes, I find him watching me as he bites into his own slice.

“I’ve been on the hunt for nutritional psychologist,” he says around a mouthful, “but the top recommended said they’ve tried working with you already.”

“Told you,” I mutter before taking another bite.

“So I spoke to Jules, and she had a theory,” he goes on. “If you associate the problem foods with something you equally crave, like, or even love, it might not have a negative impact. It’s not your body rejecting the food, it’s your mind—your subconscious most likely. Maybe a part of you still thinks you’ll get punished for eating it, locked in a room and starved. So, I chose something I knew you loved eatingbefore. Pepperoni pizza. Made it myself instead of ordering and added things you love to eatnow.”

“Crave, like, or love, huh?” I muse with a raised brow. “Pretty big assumption.”

“I’ve not assumed anything,” he replies easily. “But we’ll find out soon enough…”

I take another big bite. “If this works, doesn’t that mean you’ll have to be the one to prepare my meals from now on?”

“Am I the only one you crave, like, or love?”

Yes.But I don’t tell him that. Instead, I finish my pizza.

And then another.

And then another.

~

“How do youfeel?”

The beginnings of a smile tugs at my lips, but I roll them together to stave it off. “About the same as I did two minutes ago when you asked.”

We’re sitting on the floor outside the bathroom in the hallway. His back against the wall, me between his legs with my back to his chest, his arms around me.

We’ve been like this for the past fifteen minutes, waiting for the aftereffect of eating pizza. Normally, I’d be hurling within the first five minutes. Shockingly, however, the only thing that’s happening in my body right now is an intense craving for another slice of pizza.

But…I’m loving being here on the floor with Torin holding me in his arms, so I don’t tell him how I’mreallyfeeling. Right now, he thinks I’m “slightly nauseous.”

“Your tattoo,” I start, “do you mind if I ask what it means?”