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There are sensuous pleasures that can only be tasted in the night . . .
He comes to her in the twilight between sleep and consciousness to fulfill her secret desires. Lyssa Bates has never experienced such ecstasy, brought to her by a man whose deep, soul-penetrating blue eyes hold the promise of tempting intimacies and decadent pleasures. But this stranger, this lover, this immortal seducer is only a dream—a phantom of her nocturnal fantasies—until he appears, inexplicably, at her door in the flesh!
Lyssa aches for the reality of him, but there is grave danger in surrender. Because Captain Aidan Cross is on a mission, and the passion that consumes them both, body and soul, could have dire consequences in a world of dreams . . . and in the waking one as well.
Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of more than a dozen award-winning novels translated into over three dozen languages. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and her work has been honored as Amazon's Best of the Year in Romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award and been nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA award twice
Chapter One
Lyssa Bates glanced at the cat-shaped clock on the wall with its ticking tail and second-hand whiskers. It was finally nearing five o'clock. Almost time to start the weekend, and she couldn't wait.
Exhausted, she ran her hands through her long hair and yawned. It seemed she never got recharged enough, no matter how long she rested. Her days off passed in a blur of kicked-off sheets and buckets of coffee. Her social life had slowed to a drip as her time spent in bed grew longer and longer. None of the prescription insomnia medications helped. It wasn't that she couldn't sleep. In fact, she couldn't seem to stop sleeping.
She just wasn't getting any rest.
Standing, she held her arms above her head and stretched. Every sinew in her body protested. Flames from scented candles flickered on the tops of her metal filing cabinets, covering the medicinal odors of her clinic with the smell of sugar cookies. But the yummy scent failed to entice her hunger as it was meant to do. She was losing weight and growing weaker. Her doctor was prepared to send her to a sleep clinic to monitor her REM patterns, and she was about to agree. He said her lifelong lack of dream recollection was a mental manifestation of a physical malady, one he just hadn't pinpointed yet. Lyssa was just grateful that he didn't prescribe a straitjacket.
"That was your last patient, so you can go home if you want."
Turning, Lyssa managed a smile for Stacey, her receptionist, who stood in the office doorway.
"You look like shit, Doc. Are you coming down with something?"
"Hell if I know,"Lyssa muttered. "I've been feeling under the weather for at least a month now."
She had actually been "sickly" most of her life, which was one of the reasons she had turned to medicine for a career. Now she spent as much time as her energy level would allow in her cheery clinic with its creamy marble floors and soft Victorian decor. Behind Stacey, the narrow wainscoted hallway led to the waiting area decorated with cooing lovebirds in antique cages. It was cozy and warm, a place where Lyssa enjoyed spending time. When she wasn't so damn tired.
Stacey leaned against the doorjamb and wrinkled her nose. Dressed in scrubs with cartoon animals on them, she looked cute and bubbly, which suited her personality. "God, I hate being sick. I hope you feel better soon. Your first patient on Monday is a Lab who just needs boosters. I'll reschedule them, if you want. Give you an extra hour to decide if you feel up to coming in or not."
"I love you," Lyssa said with a grateful smile.
"Nah, you just need someone to take care of you. Like a boyfriend. Man, the way the single guys look at you when they come in here . . ." Stacey whistled. "Half the time I think they bought dogs just to come see you."
"Didn't you just say I looked like shit?"
"Girl talk. You'd look better on your deathbed than most women do on their best day. These guys don't remember their pets' checkups because of the reminder postcards. Trust me."
Lyssa rolled her eyes. "I just gave you a raise. What do you want now?"
"For you to go home. I'll close up with Mike."
"I won't argue with that." She was dead on her feet, and although the clinic was still filled with the soothing cacophony of barking dogs, Mike's whirring grooming tools, and talking birds, everything was gradually winding down for the evening. "Let me put these charts away and I'll—"
"No way. If I let you start doing my job, what'll you need me for?" Stacey strode over, scooped up the files from the mahogany desktop, and moved out to the hallway. "See ya Monday, Doc."
Shaking her head with a smile, Lyssa retrieved her purse and fished out her keys before she exited the back of her clinic to the staff parking area. Her black BMW Roadster waited in the nearly empty lot. It was a beautiful day, both sunny and warm, and she lowered the top before heading home. During the twenty-minute drive, she guzzled the cold leftover coffee in her cup holder and blared the radio, trying to stay awake long enough to keep from killing herself or someone else on the highway.
Her sleek car wove easily through the slight traffic in her small Southern California town. An impulse buy when she had finally acknowledged she was destined to die young, the Roadster was a purchase she'd never regretted.
Over the last four years she had made a lot of similarly drastic changes, like moving to the Temecula Valley and leaving a hugely successful veterinary practice in San Diego behind. She'd thought her chronic fatigue was due to her stressful work schedule and outrageous cost-of-living, and for the first few years after the move, she had felt much better. Lately, however, her health seemed worse than ever.
A battery of tests had ruled out a variety of ailments, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis. Incorrect diagnoses like fibromyalgia and sleep apnea had her taking useless medications and wearing painful masks that prevented any shuteye whatsoever. The latest diagnosis of narcolepsy was depressing, suggesting no cure for the weariness that was ruining her life. Her ability to work the long hours she enjoyed had been diminished years ago, and she was slowly losing her mind.
The wrought-iron gate to her condo community swung open and she pulled inside, passing the communal pool area she had yet to use before hitting the remote to her garage door around the corner.
She pulled to an abrupt stop inside with pinpoint precision, hit the remote again, and was inside her granite-countered- kitchen before the garage door had lowered all the way. Tossing her purse on the breakfast bar, Lyssa stripped out of her ivory silk shirt and blue slacks, then sank into her down-stuffed couch.
Pleasures of the Night. Copyright © by Sylvia Day. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.While you were sleeping, a war occurs between the human protectors the Dream Guardians and those who feed on humanity¿s fears the Nightmares. Captain Aidan Cross is recognized by his peers as the top gun as he enables women to sleep peacefully by proving incredible sexual dreams and yet also slays the evil predators that lurk nearby waiting for a moment to spring.------------- His superiors send Aidan to keep Lyssa Bates safe from the Nightmares. However, something strange occurs as Lyssa knows exactly who her fantasy lover is. She demands more of him rather than relegating him to the night. Aidan for the first time falls in love. However, he knows the prophecy of a Dream Guardian and a mortal falling in love means the end of his realm unless he kills her for she is the legendary Key.------------- This creative erotic romantic fantasy is filled with action, loaded with intelligent witty characters, and makes believers of readers that sensual nocturnal dreams are delivered by hunky guardians. The lead paring is clever as the hero knows what he must do but can he do it even he has doubts. The heroine is actually the ¿key¿ to the tale as she displays courage in and out of the bed. Readers will want more fantasy visitors as Sylvia Day ironically heats up the night.---------- Harriet Klausner
19 out of 22 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 10, 2008
I Also Recommend:
This was a great erotic read in that the story, itself, was very sexy. (We've all had those kinds of dreams, right?) I found myself drawn in and wanting to know more. Before I knew it, the book was over. Oh, well. It read like a dream. Will def. look for more by this author.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.LuAnnLH
Posted May 25, 2012
Who would ever think to write a book for dreamers about dreams. I loved it from start to finish, I couldn't wait to read more books from Sylvia Day
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 12, 2008
I loved this book! In fact, I just finished it last night and coudln't wait to give a review. I was completely drawn into the storyline and I could not stop turning the pages... Now I must order 'Heat of the night' to find out how the rest of the mystery plays out.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 17, 2012
Just buy and read. You wont be dissapointed.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 27, 2012
This wasn't my favorite. It starts off hard to follow and the ending is the worst. The bulk of the book is relatively entertaining and well read. Forgetful.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 28, 2012
I did not like the crazy supernatural stuff. Never could understand the jumping back and forth.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 31, 2012
Unbuttons his pants and takes them off. He slowly pulls down his boxers and reveals a long thick and hard c.ock thats growing as she watches. "Does this answer your question?"
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 29, 2012
Didnt know if it be a book i would understand or like but ad soon as the prologue was over i was hooked. An amazing read and sexy story. A def must read. Still deciding if i should read the second book though. Not real interested in reading about connor. Just want more of this couple.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 26, 2012
I liked this book, but not nearly as good as Ms Day's Bared to You. I agree with a previous reviewer, as soon as I got into the story it was over.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 18, 2013
Great Story and Erotic Romance (Fantasy)
The overview says it all and the reviews from "harstan" and "LuAnnLH" I never like to say too much to give away too much information to spoil the story line.
However both reviews I mentioned are exact and remember this is a fantasy of "Dream Guardians" and Nightmares which include exotic fantasy well done.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 30, 2012
Save a dollar
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 12, 2012
Another great one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 6, 2012
As always Sylvia still exceeds your expectations. A must read and keep. You will not be disappointed.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 29, 2012
I couldnt put the book down, loved it@ Just ordered the 2nd book in the series, can't wait to read it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 23, 2013
Loved it!!!!!
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Posted May 16, 2013
This book made me believe that chivalry is still alive. True love is worth fighting for.
Anonymous
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Posted May 11, 2013
I loved it!
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Posted May 1, 2013
The book was okay. I didn't really enjoy it.
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Posted April 14, 2013
I love anything by this author her writing style is amazing.
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Overview
There are sensuous pleasures that can only be tasted in the night . . .
He comes to her in the twilight between sleep and consciousness to fulfill her secret desires. Lyssa Bates has never experienced such ecstasy, brought to her by a man whose deep, soul-penetrating blue eyes hold the promise of tempting intimacies and decadent pleasures. But this stranger, this lover, this immortal seducer is only a dream—a phantom of her nocturnal ...