Excerpt: Thicker Than Blood by Anne Marie Citro

How can you feel safest
with the person who has hurt you the most?

THICKER THAN BLOOD

Anne Marie Citro

Series: Sistas Book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance
Publication Date: May 5, 2017

Every paramedic’s worst nightmare is to arrive at the scene of a horrific accident and find out that the victim is someone they love. Or, in Caden Ross’s case, the woman he used to love. It took two years to finally get over Dakota and move on with his life, or so Caden believed, until he has to face the thought of a world without her. Nothing could have prepared the handsome, headstrong off-duty paramedic for the emotional upheaval of keeping the woman he once thought would be his forever alive.

Dakota Martineau appeared to have the world in the palm of her hand. She is beautiful, kind, has an adoring family, including her best friend and identical twin sister. She has a passion for incorporating her love of life, family, and her cultural background into her dream job with special needs kids. Then, in a life-altering crash, she discovers just how fragile life is. Thankful to be surrounded by an incredible group of friends who will help heal, not just her body, but also her soul, she knows she should be happy she is alive and on the mend, but Dakota is still tormented by the loss of her one true love.

How can you feel safe with the one person who hurt you the most? What road will Caden and Dakota take when they discover fate wreaked havoc on everything they thought was true?

I adore all of Citro's books.
This book keeps you reading. It's a journey that takes you through overcoming tragedy, overcoming lots and lots of heartbreak from family and lovers, and it teaches you the power of friendship and trusting with your heart.
- Kristin Campbell, Goodreads Reviewer

Purchase Links

Available now for $2.99 only. Grab your copy today.

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Excerpt

Caden saw she was about speak and stopped her by placing a bandaged finger to her lips. “Do you love me, Dakota?” he asked, needing to hear only that from her lips.

Closing her eyes, she responded by nodding. “I never s-stopped, even after I thought—”

“No,” Caden stopped her again. That was all he had needed or wanted to hear for tonight. “I don’t want to talk tonight. We have both dealt with enough for today. I want to be with you. If you are strong enough, I want to make love to you. I need to be in your body. I need to reconnect with you on the most basic level, for my sanity and my soul.”

She knew he was struggling as deeply as she was. They had lost so much, hurt so deeply. Was this a gift she could give to him, to both of them? Physically, she was not the same woman he remembered, and she was feeling self-conscious. Her body was no longer strong. Dakota hadn’t shaved her legs or under her arms in months. She was convinced she was half monkey.

Caden saw a look of disgust cross her face. “If you don’t want to make love yet, I get it. We’ll get there. We don’t have to rush. Just let me hold you tonight.”

Dakota saw the look of rejection on his face. He had misinterpreted her reaction. She wanted it so badly. It was her modesty that was the problem.

“I want to … I j-just wish I felt more like myself. My body doesn’t w-work the same way it used to. I’ll be aw-awkward and won’t feel like a w-woman.” Her face was red with embarrassment.

Caden was confused. He had no doubt he could make her feel like a whole woman.

He tipped her head up. “We are starting fresh. No more keeping things to ourselves. We are open and honest about everything. Do you understand there isn’t anything we can’t talk about? Please tell me.”

She knew he was right. They had to move forward. The only way for it to work was with total honesty, even if it was embarrassing as hell.”

“I want you to look at me like you used to. My body hasn’t fully recovered, and I haven’t shaved in “months.” Caden lowered his forehead to hers and cupped her jaw in both hands, shuttering in relief as he breathed out. “Aw, baby girl, you are the sexiest woman alive. It’s very important to me how you feel about yourself. I’m going to help you. Let’s go.”

Her eyes widened as she tried to dig her feet in. “No, please. I don’t know if I can. I only recently got some of my dignity back. It was awful having to rely on nurses to bathe me, put on my deodorant, or even wipe my butt. I couldn’t do anything about it before, but …”

Giving her shoulders a gentle shake, he said, “Hold on, Dakota. I know you’ve gone to hell and back. Just to remind you, I am a professional and deal discreetly with people’s bodies every day. I understand your need for discretion. Trust me, baby; I’ll be respectful.”

Other Books by Anne Marie Citro

Don't miss the other books in the Sistas series:

UNDER HER WINGS (Sistas Book 1)

Have you ever wondered why you were so lucky? Then you wake up to find every you cherished is gone. You don’t fit into your life without the people who defined it. So, you run. You run as fast and as far as you can. Then you smash into them!

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

"This book is for the hopeless romantic, who believes everyone should get their happy ending. Even when happiness seems unattainable."
- Amazon Customer, Amazon reviewer

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About Anne Marie Citro

Anne Marie Citro grew born and raised in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a large, loving family. Anne Marie is married to a very patient man. He is the love of her life. They have four very cool sons, and the girls they brought into their family that have become daughters of her heart. She has been blessed enough to finally have a beautiful granddaughter after four sons. She has her own personal gaggle of girlfriends, who enrich her life on a daily basis and make her laugh. Caesar Friday is her favorite day of the week. Caesars with the girls and date night with her hubby. She works with special-needs teenagers, that have taught her how to appreciate life and see it through gentler eyes.

Anne Marie was encouraged by her husband to follow her lifelong dream to write. She loves the characters that take over imagination and haunts her dreams. She loves the arts and she has tried her hand at painting, wood sculpting, chainsaw carving, wood burning, metal and wire sculptures. Yes, her husband is a very patient man! Anne Marie is an avid reader and enjoys about three books per week. But nothing makes her happier then riding on the back of her husband's Harley and throwing her arms out and feeling the wind race by. Anne Marie and her husband take a few weeks every year to travel to spectacular destination around the world. Anne Marie is excited and can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for her life.

Official website: http://annemariecitro.com

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Book Tour Schedule

Follow the book tour from June 12 - 24, 2017.

Discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and other extras on the tour.

To check the latest tour schedule, visit the Thicker Than Blood Book Page at Book Unleashed.

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