Sylvia Day - Afterburn & Aftershock - Afterburn / Aftershock

Available as a digital anthology for the first time from Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon, enjoy Afterburn and Aftershock from #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author Sylvia Day. A sizzling miniseries about unexpected reunions, bittersweet revenge, and the fight for redemption.

Afterburn

The realization that Jax still affected me so strongly was a jagged pill to swallow. He'd only been part of my life for five short weeks two years ago. But now he was back. Walking into a deal I'd worked hard to close. And God, he was magnificent. His eyes were a brown so dark they were nearly black. Thickly lashed, they were relentless in their intensity. Had I really thought they were soft and warm? There was nothing soft about Jackson Rutledge. He was a hard and jaded man, cut from a ruthless cloth.

In that moment I understood how badly I wanted to unravel the mystery of Jax. Bad enough that I didn't mind how much it was going to cost me....

Aftershock

When it came to playing games, my lover Jax was a master strategist. He pulled strings behind the closed doors of D.C.'s most powerful political players, and somehow still found time to nearly sideline my career. What he didn't know was that when I didn't like the rules, I threw them out and made my own. I wasn't going to let Jax get away with it. I wasn't going to let him get away at all.

I loved Jax enough that it was impossible to give up. Jax loved me enough that giving up was the only end he'd consider. He didn't think I could swim with the sharks. It was entirely my pleasure to show him that I'd already dived in....

Visit the author at SylviaDay.com, facebook.com/authorsylviadayand twitter.com/sylday.

#1 Sunday Times Bestselling Author

Never mix business with pleasure. Never bring politics into the bedroom. In a way, I did both when I took Jackson Rutledge as a lover. I can’t say I wasn’t warned.

Two years later, he was back. Walking into a deal I’d worked hard to close. Under the tutelage of Lei Yeung, one of the sharpest businesswomen in New York, I had picked up a thing or two since Jax walked away. I wasn’t the girl he once knew, but he hadn’t changed. Unlike the last time we’d drifted into each other’s lives, I knew exactly what I was dealing with…and how addictive his touch could be.

The inner circle of glamour, sex and privilege was Jax’s playground—but this time, I knew the rules of the game. In the cutthroat business world, one adage rules all: keep your enemies close and your ex-lovers closer.…

Praise for Sylvia Day’s novels Praise for Sylvia Day’s novels Title Page Dear Reader Dedication Acknowledgment Afterburn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Aftershock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Epilogue Copyright

“When it comes to brewing up scorchingly hot sexual chemistry,

Day has few literary rivals.”

—Booklist

“Day is a talented, prolific erotic romance writer and puts together

a highly charged story that flows and hits the mark.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Her books are a luxury every woman deserves.”

—New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros

“There’s nothing she can’t write that isn’t simply breathtaking.”

—Romance Junkies

“When you see her name, just BUY it!”

—The Romance Studio

“A terrific writer.”

—WNBC.com

No. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dedication Acknowledgment Afterburn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Aftershock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Epilogue Copyright ,

I’m so excited to be sharing Jackson and Gianna’s story with you, and to do so as the launch title of Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon! While Jax and Gia are discovering the possibilities of second chances, we’re exploring new opportunities with this collaboration between Mills & Boon, Cosmopolitan and me. Like every Cosmo girl out there, I’m always thrilled to blaze new trails.

I’ve been a Cosmo girl and romance reader for nearly as long as I can remember. Through every stage of my life, from high school through to marriage and parenthood, I have had the latest issue of Cosmopolitan and a romance novel (or a few) on my coffee and bedside tables. You’re never beyond being fun, fearless and fabulous, and we all deserve to find our one-in-a-million guy.

I hope you enjoy Gianna’s story as she takes the New York business world—and Jackson!—by storm. I look forward to talking with you about it after you’ve turned the last page. You can find me here: www.sylviaday.com/community.

Stay fierce!

Sylvia

This one is for all the Cosmo girls.

Acknowledgments Acknowledgment Afterburn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Aftershock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Epilogue Copyright

My gratitude to Kimberly Whalen, Ann Leslie Tuttle, and Dianne Moggy—the fun, fearless women taking this journey with me.

And to my dear readers, who inspire me every day. Thank you!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Back Cover Text Available as a digital anthology for the first time from Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon, enjoy Afterburn and Aftershock from #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author Sylvia Day. A sizzling miniseries about unexpected reunions, bittersweet revenge, and the fight for redemption. Afterburn The realization that Jax still affected me so strongly was a jagged pill to swallow. He'd only been part of my life for five short weeks two years ago. But now he was back. Walking into a deal I'd worked hard to close. And God, he was magnificent. His eyes were a brown so dark they were nearly black. Thickly lashed, they were relentless in their intensity. Had I really thought they were soft and warm? There was nothing soft about Jackson Rutledge. He was a hard and jaded man, cut from a ruthless cloth. In that moment I understood how badly I wanted to unravel the mystery of Jax. Bad enough that I didn't mind how much it was going to cost me.... Aftershock When it came to playing games, my lover Jax was a master strategist. He pulled strings behind the closed doors of D.C.'s most powerful political players, and somehow still found time to nearly sideline my career. What he didn't know was that when I didn't like the rules, I threw them out and made my own. I wasn't going to let Jax get away with it. I wasn't going to let him get away at all. I loved Jax enough that it was impossible to give up. Jax loved me enough that giving up was the only end he'd consider. He didn't think I could swim with the sharks. It was entirely my pleasure to show him that I'd already dived in.... Visit the author at SylviaDay.com , facebook.com/authorsylviaday and twitter.com/sylday .

Introduction #1 Sunday Times Bestselling Author Never mix business with pleasure. Never bring politics into the bedroom. In a way, I did both when I took Jackson Rutledge as a lover. I can’t say I wasn’t warned. Two years later, he was back. Walking into a deal I’d worked hard to close. Under the tutelage of Lei Yeung, one of the sharpest businesswomen in New York, I had picked up a thing or two since Jax walked away. I wasn’t the girl he once knew, but he hadn’t changed. Unlike the last time we’d drifted into each other’s lives, I knew exactly what I was dealing with…and how addictive his touch could be. The inner circle of glamour, sex and privilege was Jax’s playground—but this time, I knew the rules of the game. In the cutthroat business world, one adage rules all: keep your enemies close and your ex-lovers closer.…