Let Me Read You In—Before I Remembered

Welcome to Let Me Read You In, where you can hear a chapter of my novels before choosing which world you want to enter.

This is Before I Remembered, a psychological thriller under the guise of romance, by me, Tierra Cox.

If this chapter catches you, you can find the full book on Amazon or Noir Pages. (starting July 10)

Now, let me read you in.

Transcript

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Welcome to Let Me Read You In, and this is my Vows of Possession series, a dark romance collection of standalone novels connected by the same world. Each story begins with one paragraph, that's the invitation, the full chapter, that's the trap. You're listening to Before I Remembered, a psychological thriller romance about memory, marriage, and the horror of waking up inside a life that feels too perfect to be true. Cassian says Daphne loved him. Her instincts say she ran. Well, are you ready? Let me read you in. Interesting. A key to what? She hid it in plain sight. Clever girl. When I first saw that key, she'd just come in from a walk. Found it outside, she said. I like it. Might work it into a piece. I didn't think twice. She's always finding something, leaves, stones, bits of sea glass, a little crow collecting oddities. I love that about her. But this she tucked into her nightstand. That means it belongs to something. I just don't know what. I chuckle and close the drawer. Drying off, I slide on a pair of grey sleep pants. No shirt, no need. I know what she likes. I need to take this slow. Ease her in, gentle touches, careful kisses, let her come back to me. The first time, I love bombed her hard, not entirely intentional, but I knew what I was doing. I gave her everything, attention, affection, consistency, and she accepted it. Until she figured out she was being watched. Daphne was more perceptive than I gave her credit for. That wouldn't do. I had to get smarter, quieter, more surgical, and when she tried to detach herself from me, run, I reminded her who she belonged to. My Daphne, Marie, mine. She's always loved my arms, my back. I remember her hands roaming that first night we made love. If that stayed with her, good. Let it stir in her blood. No shirt tonight. I roll my shoulders, flex once and wait. She's taking longer than I thought in the bathroom. The water is off, but she's just in there. Standing up I knock once before opening the door. I just want to make sure you were okay. The towel is under her breasts. She was looking at herself. I'm fine. She's not nitpicking over her body. Heat and lust fill my gaze and my dick. And I move behind her gently holding onto her forearms. What's wrong, Daphne? I can see it in your face. She doesn't fight me, but I can feel the resistance in her grip. Nothing, I just I lost weight and I don't like it. I pull her into my chest. She's not meeting my eyes in the mirror. Now this is a test in trust and obedience. Gently I move her arms away from her body to her sides. The towel falls and she gasps. Leave it. Simple commands, nothing hard to follow, if I speak in a low, controlled voice with simple instructions, it causes a person to calm down. It makes them more apt to listen and obey. Place your hands on the counter. She trembles as I let her go. Cassian, please My voice rises in octave, friendly, open. She takes the tone as an invitation. Obedience follows. She places her hands on the counter. Good girl. I whisper near her ear, and she sucks in a breath. You don't like it? Lowering my voice again, heated, lustful, goosebumps break out over her flesh, and now she looks into the mirror watching me. Perfect. My lips trail along her shoulder. Tell me why. She's allowing me to hold her. She won't relax her head on me, not yet. She's still fighting me. Her bottom lip quivers. I used to be thicker, more filled out. I don't like this. I wasn't touching her before. I was giving her time to adjust to my presence behind her. Now, slowly, I lift my hands and place them on her waist. My left hand trails over her stomach, my thumb moves across her belly button, the right hand coasts up her side until I'm holding her breast. She releases a shaky breath. Her eyes never leave mine. You were in a coma for two months. You had to be tube fed. You lost muscle mass and fat. This is normal. You look normal. I know, Cassian, but I no time for excuses. I have to cut them off now. With one hand on her breasts, clever distraction, as I rub my thumb across her nipple, my left hand grips her jaw gently, silencing her. There are no butts. You are my Daphne, beautiful in every way. I pull her closer to my chest, she relaxes, her mind is focused on the soft attention I'm giving her nipple while whispering in her ear. You, my little crow, are divine. I pepper kisses from her shoulder to her jawline. You will return to the state you were in. You will be happy. I kiss the top of her head. I will love you in every form. Her eyes missed over and three, two one. Daphne leans her head against my chest, eyes closed. A tear slips down her cheek. I feel ugly. I'm so confused still I can't remember you, not us dating, getting engaged, or getting married. Why do you still want to be here with me when I'm treating you like a stranger? I'm supposed to be your wife. This is what I want her surrender, her tragedy, her grief. In truth, she was running from me before her nasty little accident. She was attempting to escape me, but look at God. He delivered Daphne into my hands, and it is here that I will keep her. She has been reset, and on this blank canvas I will build a new narrative. All she has to do is let me work. Let me take what she doesn't know and shape a new story to believe. When a person is vulnerable, truly vulnerable, the mind stops defending, it's not weakness, it's design. The brain's trying to survive. And I know how to speak to that part of her. The one that needs to be told she's safe, the one that wants permission to collapse into someone else's arms. So I offer it. Soft words, gentle hands on bare skin, it feels like comfort, doesn't it? But I'm not comforting her. I'm rebuilding her. When a person is emotionally ammoed, when the past is fractured and the present foggy, they look for anchors. That's where I come in. I become the anchor. And then I flood her body with what it's starving for oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, a cocktail of connection and relief. You give someone a genuine orgasm while they're emotionally exposed. Their brain doesn't know the difference between pleasure and bonding. It just pairs. Pairs the feeling to the source. To me. Because I love you, Daphne. There is no light feeling for me. I found you, and I'll never let you go. I turn her face to mine, tear streaked. My lips come down on hers, my hands play over her body and she moans into my mouth. Slowly my fingers delve lower, gently until my hand is between her legs. God she's soaking wet. Her breath hitches as she releases my kiss, head pushed back into my chest. Cassian, relax, I coo, gently rubbing, kneading her breath. She reaches back and holds onto my sleep pants. I've got you, Daphne. I'll always be here for you, my love. She's breathing hard, pushing her body into my fingers. She wants penetration, but I won't give it. She needs something to look forward to. So my fingers scissor kick on her pearl. I use her juices to rub up and down, press circle, and pinch her clit. Cassian? I watch her come undone beneath my hands, and I know I've sealed the moment. I've imprinted on her like a dream she won't question, because trauma makes you cling, and I'm the only thing in reach. Slowly I drag my hand from her body. She opens her eyes and stares at me in the mirror. My love is a snare, Daphne, and you're inside of it. Don't think I let you go of you so easily. I clean her up, cradle her in my arms, and take her to bed. She thinks she's choosing me, but I'm the only choice she can see. That was your first step into Before I Remembered. When memory is gone, instinct becomes the only witness. And Cassian has every reason to keep Daphne from remembering the truth. One paragraph is the invitation. The full chapter is the trap. You can find Before I Remembered in paperback on Amazon, and starting July 10th, it will be exclusive in ebook form on Noir Pages, Home of Black Authored Romance. See you soon.