Someone shout the safe word -- for the first time in six months, E.L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey" book trilogy is absent from the top three positions on USA Today's bestseller's list. But that doesn't mean America's love affair with erotica and BDSM is anywhere near over. The e-book release of "Reflected in You," the second novel in Sylvia Day's sexually explosive Crossfire series, debuted at No. 2 on the list, and No. 1 on Amazon's Kindle Book bestseller list, dethroning James' books.

Day's popularity, and the narrative arch of her Crossfire novels have a lot to do with James, and her success, and she's the first to admit that. James' books tell the story of brooding billionaire Christian Grey and the demure flower just begging to bloom Anastasia Steele - Day's Crossfire series follows billionaire Gideon Cross and inexperienced Eva Tramell.

Day says the similarities between their stories though are purely coincidental, and that those traits shouldn't surprise anyone who's familiar with erotica because "the tortured millionaire hero" is a cliché of the genre.

But, while her first novel, "Bared to You," unashamedly struck many similar notes to "Fifty Shades," fans are reporting that "Reflected in You" is better and an encouraging step in a new direction. The book currently has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.

"I am very happy that the author wasn't replicating anything that resembled 'Fifty' in this book. This was her own work and was very well written. Her attention to detail is much better than EL James. I have to say at the end of this book I think Gideon is hotter than Christian Grey...." said piercka1.

"Kept me guessing tell the very end of the book, have to say this is the BEST ending of any book I have every read," said katelynb.

Read chapter one of "Reflected in You" here https://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781101604915,00.html?sym=EXC

"Reflected in You" picks up where Day's first novel in the series, "Bared to You" left off. The novel is again told through Eva's point of view.

Synopsis via Penguin:

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction... my every desire... mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We'd never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession...

Like James, Day's traveled the self-publishing route to success. After receiving tremendous buzz from readers with the release of "Bared to You," and landing on several national Bestseller lists as a self-published novel, Berkley Books acquired the novel. Berkley has since published its slightly revised edition with a 500,000-copy first print run. It was an instant sensation. The novel debuted at No. 4 on the New York Times trade paperback fiction bestseller list directly behind the "Fifty Shades" trilogy.

Day also thinks some of popularity of her books is due to aging "Twilight" fans who want something more serious and adult.

"I think a lot of those readers are growing up and are looking for the next step in a romance story, a little bit more sex, a little bit more conflict, and they're migrating from that into contemporary erotic romance," said Day.

"It's emotional resonance that they're looking for in a story," she said. "So when you read something like 'Twilight' with life-and-death stakes, they want to move forward into an adult read that has that same sort of conflict level, and they're finding that mostly in erotic romance."

"Reflected in You" is available now as an e-book, and is out Oct. 26 in paperback.

Excerpt:

"Let go, Gideon." I caught his wrists to pull his hands away.

He buried his face in my neck, obstinately holding on. "We'll get there. Okay? Just- We'll get there."

I deflated, feeling little of the triumph I had hoped to feel when I'd first asked and anticipated his answer.

"Can we give it a rest tonight?" he asked gruffly, still clinging tight. "Give it all a rest? I just want to chill with you, all right? Order something in for dinner, watch TV, hold you when I sleep. Can we do that?"

Realizing something was seriously off, I twisted to face him. "What's wrong?"

"I just want some time with you."

My eyes stung with tears. There was more he wasn't telling me, so much more. Our relationship was swiftly becoming a minefield of words left unsaid and secrets not shared. "Okay."

"I need it, Eva. You and me with no drama." His fingertips brushed across my cheek. "Give me that. Please. Then give me a kiss."

I turned around, straddling his hips. Cupping his face in my hands, I angled my head to find the perfect approach and pressed my lips to his. I started out soft and slow, licking and suckling. I tugged on his bottom lip; then coaxed him to forget our problems with teasing strokes of my tongue along his.

"Kiss me, damn it," he growled, his hands bracketing my spine and kneading restlessly. "Kiss me like you love me."

"I do," I promised, breathing the words into him. "I can't help it."