Novels by Rain Tummy

POV: JaredThe crimson glow of Xaden's taillights vanished beyond the bend, swallowed whole by the darkness. But his presence lingered thick and suffocating, like the acrid smell of smoke after a fire. My fists curled so tightly my knuckles cracked, but the tremor in my hands betrayed me. I couldn't let Zina see it. Not now.Not after this.She knelt on the damp earth, clutching Asher so fiercely it seemed as if letting go would splinter him into irreparable pieces. The boy's muffled sobs pierced the suffocating silence, each one a blade twisting deeper into my chest. I dropped to one knee beside them, the gravel biting into my skin as I reached out and brushed Zina's shoulder.She flinched hard."Zina." My voice came out hoarse, the strain roughening the edges. "We need to move. Now."She lifted her head, her face pale and streaked with tears. Her bloodshot eyes locked on mine, wild and desperate. "He'll find us, Jared." Her voice cracked, the words barely a whisper. "He always finds

Zina's POVThe cabin door shut behind Jared, leaving me alone with Asher and the deafening silence that seemed to stretch forever. I clutched Asher tighter, my arms wrapped protectively around him as if that could shield him from everything outside. My eyes darted toward the windows, the curtains drawn tightly, but it didn't stop the fear crawling beneath my skin.Jared had promised we were safe here that no one could find us. But the footprints he'd spotted outside told a different story.I kissed Asher's forehead, brushing back the mess of curls stuck to his skin. He stirred slightly, murmuring something in his sleep, but didn't wake. At least one of us could rest.I envied him envied his innocence and belief that Jared and I could protect him. I wanted to believe it, too. But after everything we'd been through, trust didn't come so easily anymore.The fire in the stone hearth crackled softly, but instead of calming me, it only made the shadows dance more wildly across the walls. I

Zina's POVMy gaze drifted toward the window, the curtains half-drawn but still letting in the faint glow of the streetlights. The glass reflected the room around us—the soft glow of the lamps, the shadows dancing along the walls. But for the briefest moment, I thought I saw something else—a flicker of movement outside.The hair on the back of my neck prickled.I froze, my heart stuttering in my chest as I strained to see past the reflection. Nothing. Just the night. Just shadows."What's wrong?" Jared's voice pulled me back, and I turned quickly, forcing a smile."Nothing." I shook my head. "Just my imagination."His eyes lingered on mine, searching. Jared could always tell when something was off. It was one of the things I both loved and hated about him. He saw too much."Zina," he said softly, "don't do that thing where you pretend everything's fine when it's not."I laughed nervously. "I'm not pretending. I swear.""Then why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"I hesitated, uns

POV: Unknown PersonThe night was cold, the kind of cold that seeped into your bones and lingered, but I barely noticed. The wind howled around me, sending leaves skittering across the rooftop, but I stayed still, cloaked in darkness. The only thing that mattered was the scene unfolding through the softly glowing window across the street.I pressed the binoculars closer to my face, my gaze narrowing as I brought them into sharper focus. Inside, Jared and Zina sat together, their faces lit by the golden glow of the room. The way they laughed, their heads tilted toward one another, made my stomach twist. They looked so happy, so at peace.Jared leaned closer to her, whispering something. Whatever he said made her laugh—a full, carefree laugh that filled the space around her. She tilted her head back, exposing the curve of her neck, and I felt a bitter taste rise in my throat. He touched her arm lightly, as if reassuring her of something, and her hand came to rest over his, her fingers l

Zina POV I stare down my body as Jared wraps a fist around his cock and angles it down to drag the blunt head over my clit. It feels dirty and a little bit wrong, and I never want it to stop. Gods, how is this hotter than some of the sex I've had? Is it purely because it's him? I don't have an answer. Not now. Maybe not ever.He waits a beat and then strokes me again, circling my clit just like I did with my fingers earlier. I hold my breath, willing him to do more. It's as if Jared draws the thought right out of my head, because he drags his cock down wetting himself with my desire. Wicked. This is so beyond wicked.It's on the tip of my tongue to beg him to fuck me now, but I bite the words back. No matter how delirious pleasure makes me, I'm still aware enough to know that I've pushed him to his limit tonight. If I try for more, there's every chance he'll push back. That he'll stop the decadent motion of his cock through my folds. Down, and then up to circle my clit, and then bac

Jared POV "Daddy, please."I trailer my tongue down her ear and neck, I could feel her heart pulsing against my lips."Is that all you got? You have to beg me for it." I whispered against her chest.I have no words to describe what I'm feeling now, not with her naked in my home, her tanned skin flush with desire for my touch. I skate my hand over her stomach, hating Xaden and everyone else for making her this stressed out."Daddy." Zina presses back against me, leaning her head against my shoulder, giving herself to me entirely. "Please."As if I could stop now, even if I wanted to. We're on this road to the end together, well past the point of no return. I don't waste any more time. I cup her pussy, and I can't help my growl when I find her wet and wanting. "You enjoy these games. Enjoy being on display."She nods. "Yes daddy, I enjoy it so much."I concentrate on moving slowly, because the alternative is to fall on her like a starving creature and undo all the fragile restraint I'v

Bella’s POVThe problem with seeing Ethan again was that it made remembering him impossible to avoid.For months, I had worked so hard to build a life that did not revolve around him anymore. I had forced myself to stop checking my phone every five minutes. I had forced myself to stop looking for him in crowded places. I had forced myself to stop wondering what he was doing or whether he missed me.It had not been easy.Some days had been horrible.Some nights had been even worse.But eventually the memories had stopped feeling sharp enough to cut me open every time they appeared.Then Ethan showed up again.And suddenly it felt like I was back at the beginning.I was standing in my apartment kitchen the next morning, staring at a piece of toast that had already gone cold, when my phone buzzed beside me.I glanced down and saw Maya’s name.Maya: You looked emotional yesterday.I immediately rolled my eyes.Maya: That’s suspicious.Maya: Very suspicious.Maya: Suspiciously suspicious.

Bella’s POVThe moment I walked back into the bookstore, my heart was beating so hard that I was convinced everyone around me could hear it.I immediately headed toward the nearest shelf and pretended to organize books, even though the books were already perfectly organized.Because what else was I supposed to do?I had just willingly walked outside and spoken to Ethan.Not because he forced me.Not because he chased me.Not because he cornered me.I had gone to him.The realization made my stomach twist.“Okay.”I nearly dropped the book in my hands.Maya appeared beside me like some kind of detective who could smell emotional problems from a mile away.“What?”She narrowed her eyes.“What was that?”I blinked.“What was what?”“That.”She pointed dramatically toward the front window.“The staring.”My face immediately grew warm.“Oh my God.”Maya gasped.“Oh my God.”“No.”“IT WAS HIM.”Several customers glanced toward us.I immediately grabbed her arm.“Lower your voice.”Her eyes

Ethan’s POVA week passed.Seven long days.Seven painfully quiet days.And somehow every single day felt longer than the one before it.I kept my promise.No calls.No texts.No surprise visits.No showing up outside her apartment.Nothing.I gave Bella exactly what she asked for.Space.The problem was that space felt a lot like torture.I was sitting in my office staring at paperwork that I hadn’t actually read in nearly twenty minutes when Derek finally snapped.“Ethan.”I blinked.“What?”“You’ve been staring at the same page for half an hour.”I looked down.Sure enough, the document sitting in front of me hadn’t moved.I sighed.“Maybe it’s a really interesting page.”Derek looked completely unimpressed.“Maybe you’re a terrible liar.”Fair.I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes.Sleep still wasn’t coming easily.Neither was peace.Most nights ended the same way.I would lie awake.Think about Bella.Think about our child.Think about everything I should have done differ

Bella’s POVThree days passed.Three long, frustrating, confusing days.And Ethan kept his promise.No calls.No surprise visits.No flowers.No letters.No attempts to find me.Nothing.The silence should have made me happy.That was what I wanted, wasn’t it?Space.Distance.Freedom.That was what I had asked for.So why did it feel so strange?I stood behind the counter at the bookstore where I worked part-time and stared at the same page in a novel for almost five minutes without actually reading a single word.My mind simply refused to cooperate.Because every time I thought I was finally focusing on something else, Ethan somehow found his way back into my head.It was annoying.Beyond annoying.It was unfair.A customer approached the counter.I immediately forced a smile onto my face.“Did you find everything okay?”The older woman smiled warmly.“I did, sweetheart.”I rang up her books while she chatted happily about mystery novels.Normally I would’ve enjoyed the conversation

Ethan’s POVI did not sleep.Not really.I spent most of the night sitting in the nursery with Bella’s old note in my hands while memories I had spent months trying to outrun caught up to me one by one.By the time morning arrived, I felt exhausted.The kind of exhausted that had nothing to do with sleep.The kind that settled deep inside your chest and refused to leave.Sunlight streamed through the windows as I walked downstairs, but it did nothing to make the house feel warmer.If anything, the daylight made everything worse.At night, I could pretend the empty rooms were just shadows.In daylight, there was nowhere to hide from the truth.Bella was gone.And this house knew it.I walked into the kitchen and automatically reached for two mugs before freezing halfway through the motion.My chest tightened.For a second, I simply stood there staring at them.One mug in each hand.One for me.One for her.A habit.A stupid habit that refused to die.Slowly, I placed the second mug bac

Bella’s POVI didn’t sleep.Not really.I spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed while memories I had spent months trying to bury clawed their way back to the surface one by one.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ethan.Standing outside that bathroom.Looking at me like his entire world had shattered.Looking at me like he was finally understanding what he had done.And the worst part?Part of me believed him.I hated that.I hated it so much.Because believing him felt like betraying myself.It felt like betraying the girl who had cried herself to sleep every night after losing her baby.The girl who had begged for help and been ignored.The girl who had left because staying would have destroyed her.By the time sunlight finally spilled through my curtains, my head was pounding.I groaned and rolled onto my back.The ceiling stared back at me.Blank.Silent.Just like my apartment.Just like my life lately.A few months ago, that silence had been comforting.Now it just f