Revelation: A Contemporary Erotic Romance (Iris Series) Read online

  REVELATION

  Book 3 in the Iris series

  Rebecca Lynn

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2014 by Rebecca Lynn

  Cover image © Shutterstock

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Also by Rebecca Lynn

  Iris Series

  RELEASE (Book 1)

  REDEMPTION (Book 2)

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  What Readers are Saying About the Iris Series

  Symbolism of the Iris Flower

  PART ONE

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  PART TWO

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  What Readers are saying about the Iris Series

  Release, Book 1

  "Loved it! I couldn't put the book down." Samantha, 5 stars

  "Holy Hotness! This book consumed me from the beginning. I stayed up reading until 3am and the next day I was useless. I could not put this book down. Jenny's Kindle, 5 stars

  "Beautifully written! One of my favorite reads this year!" Amazon Customer, 5 stars

  "Love it...So good, I read it twice!" Danita, 5 stars

  "Loved it! Cannot wait for book 2. Rebecca Lynn is an author I would recommend to my friends..." Andrea, 5 stars

  "Awesome book! I can't say enough about this book...not a cliffhanger...Love the blends of erotic/romance. You have to read this and add to your favorites." Amazon Customer, 5 stars

  "Wonderful story. One of the better books that I have read...I love a story that is told in ONE book...I highly recommend this and look forward to the next in the series." Amazon Customer, 5 stars

  Redemption, Book 2

  "Perfect. This book is absolutely perfect...It deserves a 10 star rating for sure. Just perfect. Highly recommended." Bea, 5 stars

  "Great read. Second book in the Iris series. Loved the first and now the second as well. Love the way this author writes...Hurry up Spring and get here so I can buy book three." Dmontgomery, 5 stars

  "I really like this series...This is the second book in this series and I can definitely say I'm addicted." *FamilyKindleCoffeLover*, 5 stars

  "Amazing. Absolute fantastic follow up to Release!! ...lots of hotness!! Definitely recommend Redemption and CAN'T wait for Michael and Emily's story! Write faster girls!!!" Hockey mom, 5 stars

  Symbolism of the Iris Flower

  Plants and flowers have been given as gifts for ages. "...While other plants are used to communicate very specific messages,

  the iris can be seen to symbolize the act of communication itself." http://www.flowerexperts.com/meaning_of_the_iris.asp

  Traditionally the Iris flower has been chosen to symbolize faith, valor, wisdom, hope, inspiration, cherished friendship, my compliments and promise in love.

  [Other meanings include] purity, kindness, passion, peace of mind,

  purity, admiration and courage.

  White Iris flowers symbolize purity and kindness,

  YELLOW Iris flowers symbolize passion,

  Blue Iris flowers symbolize hope and faith, and

  Purple Iris flowers symbolize wisdom and compliments.

  http://www.iris-flower.net/iris-flower-meaning

  REVELATION, n.

  2. something revealed [to make known; disclose; divulge; to lay open to view; display; exhibit]...

  as of something not before realized.

  dictionary.com

  *****

  Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

  And I'd give up forever to touch you

  'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

  You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

  And I don't wanna go home right now

  And all I can taste is this moment

  And all I can breathe is your life

  When sooner or later it's over

  I just don't wanna miss you tonight

  And I don't want the world to see me

  'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

  When everything's made to be broken

  I just want you to know who I am

  And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

  Or the moment of truth in your lies

  When everything feels like the movies

  Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive

  And I don't want the world to see me

  'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

  When everything's made to be broken

  I just want you to know who I am

  I just want you to know who I am...

  PART ONE

  Three Years Earlier

  “You’re a waste of my time, Em. What kind of girlfriend does this?”

  Emily sat on the sofa staring at her boyfriend of the last eighteen months. Inwardly she sighed. Why did this conversation not surprise her? She reached up and pinched the top of her nose under her brown framed glasses.

  Was she a horrible person for feeling relieved?

  “What do you want me to say, Scott?”

  It was a similar conversation to all of the other ones they’d been having for the last few months. The oft said complaint on Scott’s part was she was too strong, too masculine in her ‘ways’, was always in control. She wasn’t fun enough. She sensed that her strength made him feel emasculated which made her sigh again. Well, it’s not like he really needed her. Or at least he certainly flirted enough with other girls to make her feel like he didn’t. He’d been like that since day one and she knew that going in, but somehow being a 23, soon to be 24, year old virgin at the time bothered her more than this asshole’s disrespectful ways.

  When it came to men, she was always doing something wrong.

  He snorted. “Nothing. I just want you to listen. I’m so done with you.” He paused and looked at her with pity. Then in a patronizing tone, as if talking to a child, he said, “Do you understand what I’m saying? I don’t want you, Emily.”

  O-kay. That was a little harsh. Not that she could blame him that much. With law school, they had drifted apart, and she wasn’t exactly giving it up recently. And wasn’t sex the reason most men her age were in relationships in the first place?

  She gritted her teeth and swallowed down her anger. Why did she even care? She didn’t even love him. Did s
he ever? It was the thought of someone not taking the time to know her that hurt the most. He never truly cared about her. She knew that.

  You just don’t understand me. And I’m not willing to make you understand me if you don’t want to take the time.

  “You’re right, Scott. Let’s just end it and call it a day.”

  He sneered and shook his head.

  “What kind of girlfriend are you, anyway?” he repeated, always having to have the last word. “I mean, what girl doesn’t have sex with her boyfriend? I guess you can just keep going to your Krav Maga classes, keeping all that tightly reined control,” he said waving his hands in the air. “Kicking ass like you’re used to. Find some guy you can pummel on for a while. That apparently makes you feel more like a man. Oops. I mean, woman.”

  “What the fuck, Scott? The gloves are finally coming off, is that it? Let’s just get it all out there.”

  “Yeah, let’s do that. You wanna know what?” He took a step closer to the sofa, waving his finger. “I thought when I found out you did Judo and shit you’d be a hot fuck in the sack. Instead, you’re the most repressed woman I’ve ever met. Fahckin’ you was like sticking my dick into a glass of cold water.” His Boston roots were coming out in his frustration as he pronounced his words.

  Why don’t you tell me how you really feel, prick?

  She swallowed down the pain and asked dryly, “Do you feel better now?”

  “And you know what else?” He laughed mockingly, “You might have all the right parts, but you don’t know how to work ’em, honey. You’re like a fachkin’ robot where it really counts, Emily. Not a real woman. Just a machine.” He took a step toward her, enjoying this entirely too much. “You’re so not worth it.” He leered at her. “There are quite a few girls out there wantin’ a good fahck. And don’t think for a second I didn’t find them to take care of me these last few weeks. You’re nothing but a cold fish,” he muttered with disgust and turned away.

  Wow. At first she just sat there in a state of shock at the vitriol of his words. He’d always been a little dickish, but nothing like this. Time to take back your dignity, Emily. She got up and fought down the betrayal and emotion that were so close to the surface. Control, Emily. Stay in control.

  “And do you know what, Scott? I’ve never during this whole year and a half disrespected you. Maybe you weren’t happy with the sex because you didn’t know how to use your dick properly, asshole. You think I’m not worth it? You admit to me that you fuck around and then tell me I’m not worth it? Fuck you, Scott. You’re nothing but an adolescent. You wanna end it? Fine, it is so ended. I wouldn’t let you touch me again if you were the last man on earth, but the least you can do is man up and take a little responsibility for yourself rather than blaming this whole shit storm of a relationship on me. You can’t do that though, can you? That would require you to give up being the victim. And you’re just so good at playing that role.”

  Oh well. So much for control. The fucking asshole cheated on her? She was so glad she followed her gut and hadn’t had sex with him for the last couple of months. It wasn’t like she found pleasure in it anyway.

  “There are plenty of girls out there who think I use my dick just fine, Em, so fahck you,” he fumed. With finality, he turned and slammed out of her apartment.

  The echo of the door reverberated throughout the room and the silence settled around her. A moment passed. Then another. She fell back onto the sofa.

  She shook her head. No. Do. Not. Cry. He’s not worth it, so suck it down.

  The asshole cheated on her and he’s pissed at her? Asshole, dickwad, shithead…

  She wasn’t cut out for this relationship thing. High school should have taught her that. Not if it meant that the only men out there were worthless cheating fuckheads like him. Where were the men who were like her father, her uncle, her cousins?

  Cold fish. The voice whispered in her head.

  She shook her head again. No.

  She wasn’t cold, she huffed. She just hadn’t trusted Scott. And if she had held back at all, it was only because she had never truly respected him. The men in her age bracket didn’t give her much hope for the future.

  She continued to take slow calming breaths. It was time to enjoy life as a single woman again. She didn’t want a man, anyway. Law school, work and her teaching schedule at the Krav Maga studio would keep her busy.

  She sat and stared at the wall as the moments ticked by. That was all she needed.

  Chapter 1

  Present Day

  In the midst of the unusual dry heat of this last day of August, Emily White rode in the back of the cab with the car windows down. Whether it was dry, or more likely humid and sticky, she didn’t care. She welcomed the heat as she was notoriously chilly most of the time. The cabbie’s radio was playing NPR while the car rushed through the streets, taking her to the 9th Precinct located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

  The sunny and warm Friday before Labor Day had been anticipated by her with great angst and relish for two weeks. Her mop of dirty blonde hair was secured in a messy top knot on her head as she continued her journey toward the entrance of the police station located on East 5th Street. Thankfully she was dressed in a sports bra, tank top, and Yoga pants, so she wasn’t overheating.

  Not yet, anyway.

  She glanced at her watch while trying to control the adrenaline coursing through her veins, but she couldn’t quite get a rein on it. Whenever she knew she’d see Detective Michael Callahan her nerves always got the best of her. Not to mention her hormones.

  She grumbled to herself, hoping her encounter with him would only last an hour since she had a one o’clock appointment at West Side Academy later that afternoon and was already taking a long break in the middle of her work day.

  Over the years, she’d worked hard at keeping her emotions in check. There was no question she was a strong woman. She had to have thick skin with her choice of careers. Being a woman in the predominantly male occupation of law forced her to be tough. Growing up in Boston contributed to that trait as well. But when you added in her practice with Krav Maga, she was a powerhouse. Most of the men she’d met were not as strong as she was, emotionally or physically. She was no needy female and the strength she projected slowed down the process of finding a man.

  That, and because you suck in bed. Emily shook the thought from her head.

  Maybe she didn’t care about finding a man.

  Yes, you do.

  She stopped her mental argument and sighed. Ever since she’d met the detective back in the beginning of June, he’d been the bane of her existence. Thankfully she didn’t have to see him often. But when she did have to see him? Dear Lord. Being around him gave new meaning to the phrase ‘hot and bothered’. Because when she was around him, she was definitely hot and she was definitely bothered.

  He knew she was bothered, but she was fairly certain he didn’t know about the hot part. And as far as she was concerned she wanted to keep it that way. His head was already big enough.

  She hated to admit it but when she was around the man, she felt a feminine power she hadn’t felt in years. Maybe ever. When he was near, all she wanted to do was get her hands on him. And if the only way she’d allow herself to do that was by kicking his ass, she’d take it.

  There was an undeniable chemistry between them, even though she knew she was just another pretty face to him. The detective had made no secret that he found her attractive. He told her so with his eyes and words every time he saw her. He was looking for a good time girl to have a tussle with and he would be woefully disappointed if he was depending on Emily for that.

  She was so not going there. She was certain that was all there was on his part and given his reputation, she knew that was all there’d ever be. Which was fine by her. She steered clear of that mess and was perfectly content in being alone.

  I am content in being alone. I am.

  Besides, he’d be bored to tears with you in the bedroom.r />
  She pushed away the ever present thought. Again.

  He absolutely was not her type. She wasn’t quite sure which men were. Her last physical relationship had been with Scott from three years earlier, and before that there had only been non-sexual dates in college and her short lived blip on the radar with the guy she dated in high school. Was she supposed to count them even though she hadn’t had sex with any of them?

  She didn’t have time for relationships. She was too busy with her law career, her Krav Maga, and her volunteer work. She knew she looked good enough to snag a man with her heels and killer wardrobe that showed off her compact curvy figure. Simply put, it was her strength that usually pushed men away. But if big strong detective man wanted a rematch, she’d give him one. And she looked forward to wiping the floor with him if for no other reason than to knock him down a peg or two. Literally and figuratively.

  Well, and to get her hands on him. Because let’s face it, he was a gorgeous man, asshole that he was. His tall frame put him easily thirteen or fourteen inches over her very petite stature of 5’1” and his thick dark brown hair and mischievous dark eyes gave him the charm of Robert Downey Jr. with even more sex appeal.

  But it was his personality that drove her bonkers.

  He was a playboy, pure and simple. Cocky and arrogant. All charm and good humor. Always laughing, flirting, touching. How he was able to keep his sparkling personality so optimistic while being a detective in the ‘Fighting Ninth’, she’d never know. Although he had the flirtiness down like her ex, he didn’t have the mean spiritedness and bad attitude. He was always happy.