This is the sequel (continuation) of After. Hardin and Tessa's relationship will be tested in ways she never expected, but he knew of all along.

Tessa Young is an 18 year old college student with a simple life, excellent grades, and a sweet boyfriend. She always has things planned out ahead of time, until she meets a rude boy named Hardin, with too many tattoos and piercings who shatters her plans.

The passionate story of Tessa and Hardin continues as family secrets, deep betrayals, and career opportunities threaten to tear them apart.

Mari Hansen ran away from home at 15 not being able to stand her radically religious family anymore and was desperate to be nothing like them which lead her to living on the streets subjecting herself to drugs, alcohol and prostitution going down a road straight to an early death when her pregnancy saved her life. Clean and sober since then, she would do anything to provide for her even if it's selling her body to do that. She went from the bad streets where she was beat up to an agency for high priority clients. Now 24 with a 7 year old daughter she wants out of the life she's known nearly 10 years so she can do anything else, already knowing that one day her daughter would have to know the truth. So she studies while Lalexia is at school when she gets a new client that her boss thought only she could handle. Shawn Sorci left home as soon as he could and never went back. He was off to basic right after graduation. He dedicated his life to the Army and in 9 years he had served a good portion of that overseas. He volunteered for deployments and his leadership qualities shone through as he was promoted to Sergeant First Class shortly before his latest deployment, which he didn't know could possibly be his last. Part way in they were ambushed and he was lucky to make it out with a couple gunshot wounds while some of his men never made it out. Now on medical leave while he recovers he's irritable, frustrated, angry and not wanting to admit he was suffering from PTSD. He needed to let off some steam and that's where Mari come in. He didn't want some fake experience because he really didn't care so when he tells her to speak her mind she becomes the most infuriating and sarcastic woman he's ever met, putting him in his place on many occasions much to his amusement. For once in his life he feels a fierce protectiveness for someone other than for the men he served with but she wants nothing to do with that, to her he's a client and nothing else.