What first temptation does the protagonist of "Blood" give into? How does he cover up his actions?

The protagonist's first slip occurs when Vera purchases steaks for dinner, leaving them on the counter. Home alone, he devours one, chewing the meat until the taste of blood is gone and then spitting out the remains. When Vera returns, he has thrown both steaks into the garbage and tells her the meat was off. She wants to return it to the butcher, but he convinces her not to.