Free The Seven Devils (YA "New Adult" Romance) by Sara Danvers

the full truth? How do I know I can trust you when you won’t trust me?”
     
    Neil looked searchingly into my eyes. “You said the day we met that you were new at this dating stuff. I’m new at this… being so close to someone. If there is one thing I’ve learned over and over in my life, it’s that you can’t trust people. It is just going to take me a little time to open up to you. But I want to, Ellen. I want to be open with you.”
     
    I nodded and wound my fingers between his. “I’m not going to hurt you Neil. You can trust me.”
     
    He stroked my cheek and said, “I know, Love. I know. I’m going to try harder.”
     
    ***
     
    My wolf was back that night in my dreams.
     
    “You left me,” I said to him softly as I settled down into a soft patch of grass.
     
    He padded over to me and lay down beside me. “I can smell the boy on you again,” his voice sounded in my head.
     
    “Who, Neil?” I asked.
     
    “The other,” he replied. “Have you forgotten so quickly his actions the night before last? When I left you that night it was to protect you. To watch the boy to know he would not come while you slept.”
     
    “He apologized,” I tried to explain. “He proved he is a good man today.”
     
    The wolf growled. “How easily you forgive.”

 
     
    Chapter 9
    There was a note on the kitchen counter in the morning from my mom, telling Austin and I we had better both be home by 6:00 as she wanted to have a nice family dinner.
     
    “Yeah right,” Austin smirked as he walked out the door. “I’m sure I’ll have better plans than that by the end of the day.”
     
    Neil arrived a moment later and I hugged him. “How are you feeling today?” I asked.
     
    “Hopeful,” he replied and kissed the top of my head. “How about I come over after school today. We’ll talk… and I’ll let you ask me anything you want about me.”
     
    I backed up a step and looked up at him. “Really?” I asked excitedly.
     
    He nodded as we walked out the door. “Last night I thought a lot about what you said, about how I never open up.” He held my hand as we walked. “It has nothing to do with you, my quietness. It is just the way things have always been. I never talk about myself because there was no one here to listen. Now that that has changed, I want to change too. I want to tell you everything.”
     
    ”I’m so excited,” I said and squeezed his hand.
     
    “I’m a little scared,” he said with clear embarrassment.
     
    “Neil…” I said, grinning, “I’ll go easy on you, I promise!”
     
    ***
     
    My good mood lasted throughout the rest of the day. Things just seemed to be going my way. We were put into groups in Chemistry to begin a group project on the elements and I was actually placed with two of the smartest kids in class. I teased Neil all through lunch about what terrible things I was going to ask him after school, though in truth I hadn’t had much free time to think up many questions. I had not seen Derrick at all that day, which I was a little thankful for since I didn’t know what I would say to him. What do you say to someone who rescued you, but who your boyfriend hates?
     
    Neil was quiet on the walk home, but I was so wound up that I talked about a mile a minute about everything from my Chemistry project to my mom’s note ordering me to be home for dinner that night.
     
    “Alright, ready for a little Q&A?” Neil asked once we entered the cool air-conditioned bliss of my living room.
     
    I smiled. “Q&A?”
     
    “Yeah… go ahead and start. Just ask me anything you’d like. No subject is off limits. The only rule is to be completely honest,” Neil replied.
     
    “Okay,” I said, grinning. “Sounds good!”
     
    I paused, thinking over all the possible things I could ask. My face grew hot and I asked, “Am I an okay kisser?”
     
    Neil chuckled and instead of answering he leaned forward and put his lips to mine. I kissed him back and ran my fingers