Hard Ever After by Laura Kaye
(Hard Ink #4.6)
February 2, 2016
176 pages
Genre: Romance, Military, 18+
Contains: Strong language, explicit sex
Source: eARC for Honest review

Justice served. Honor restored. Team reunited. After a long battle to discover the truth, the men and women of Hard Ink have a lot to celebrate, especially the wedding of two of their own—Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, whose hard-fought love deserves a happy ending. As Nick and the team shift from crisis mode to building their new security consulting firm, Becca heads back to work at the ER. But amid the everyday chaos of demanding jobs and their upcoming nuptials, an old menace they thought long gone reemerges, threatening the peace they’ve only just found. Now, for one last time, Nick and Becca must fight for their always and forever, because they know that when true love overcomes all the odds it lasts hard ever after.

'Hard Ever After' is a special treat for fans of the Hard Ink series. It's definitely not a standalone, as we are witnessing all the couples from the previous books and the outcome of their previous mission. I was already happy with how Beckett's book ended everything. But this gem gives you that special something extra. The continuing story of the gang's happy ever after, with Nick and Becca at the center of it all.

Now, it's not all rainbows and sunshine. That would be too easy for the Hard Ink guys and gals. With the pending nuptuals, there's an old issue come to wreak havoc. But once again, the gang is a united front, and nothing is going to mess with their girls or their plans. They've fought hard for their happy ever after, and no one's getting in their way now. The danger, however, is balanced out with sweet romantic moments, touching heartfelt moments, funny times, and super sexy times.

I loved this series, so getting to see all the couples from the previous books was wonderful. From small to big glimpses, I loved seeing where they were all at, and even peaks at where their futures are headed. Happy smiles all around.

This novella was a great addition to the series. Not only do we get the hard-earned love and devotion we've come to expect and cherish in these couples, and Nick and Becca in particular. But we also get the excitement and danger we've also come to expect, and with that we get the sweetness of victory that makes it all better. I'm going to miss these guys and gals. 'Hard Ink' is a fantastic series, and I'm so glad we got this little gem.

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Sitting at the dinner table surrounded by their friends, Nick squeezed Becca’s thigh. She turned to him wearing a huge smile, a champagne glass in her hand. “Are you feeling frisky, Mr. Rixey?” she asked.

Nick leaned in close. “No, I’m f--king horny. I want to mess up your lipstick and tear off your panties and make my fingers and c--k smell like you.” He leaned back again, his face carefully neutral.

Her eyes were wide—and full of heat. “Holy s--t. How am I supposed to be apart from you the rest of the night after that?”

“Welcome to my world, Sunshine.” He threw back a gulp of whiskey.

“Come here. I want to taste that off your tongue,” she said.

“Jesus,” he gritted out, but it wasn’t like he was turning down a kiss. She leaned in, giving him a great view of her cleavage down the front of her sequined strapless dress, and grasped his face in her hand. Her lips were warm, soft, and tasted like champagne and the chocolate mousse cake they’d shared for dessert. F--king delicious. Her tongue slipped around his, and she pressed herself closer.

“Someone pull those two apart,” one of the guys yelled.

Nick grinned even as they continued to kiss. He wasn’t voluntarily giving up Becca’s mouth, that was for g--damned sure.

“All right,” Kat said from the other side of Nick. “We better get the rest of the night underway before we lose the bride and groom.” Laughter all around as everyone got up from the table.

“Do you think they’d notice if we snuck away?” Becca asked, her face absolutely glowing.

Beckett grabbed Nick by the shoulders. “Get up, Rix. The tables are waiting for us.”

“Apparently,” Nick said. “You go have a good time, Sunshine. But you be ready for me later.” He arched a brow.

“Oh, I will,” Becca said, her tongue licking at her bottom lip.

S--t, he had it bad for her. And he f--king loved it. This woman was going to be his wife. How fantastically lucky was he? A man who just months ago would’ve said he didn’t believe in luck, unless it was of the bad kind.

Outside, they found two massive stretch Hummer limousines waiting for them. Beckett had arranged their transportation for the evening through one of the companies he had experience working with—the cars were bulletproof and the drivers were prior military and armed. Nick appreciated the hell out of the gesture.

As the men headed for one vehicle and the women for the other, Nick pulled Becca into his arms. “Have fun, Sunshine. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Nick.” This kiss was softer, sweeter. Which was good, since all their friends started giving them shit.

“Yeah, yeah,” Nick said, flipping the guys the finger.

“Before you go, I have something for you,” he murmured, then slipped a little wrapped box into Becca’s hand. “Wear this and think of me.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’m not telling,” he said.

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.