Barbarians of the Dust Series by A.G. Wilde

I signed up for a quick paycheck. Instead, I got abducted by aliens—and stranded on a desert planet that wants me dead.My name is Justine Parker, and I was desperate. Rent was due, my sister and I were one eviction away from living on the streets, and the job market had collapsed after the Xyma arrived. So when I saw an ad offering ten grand just for participating in "environmental adaptation research," I didn’t read the fine print.Big mistake... moreI signed up for a quick paycheck. Instead, I got abducted by aliens—and stranded on a desert planet that wants me dead.My name is Justine Parker, and I was desperate. Rent was due, my sister and I were one eviction away from living on the streets, and the job market had collapsed after the Xyma arrived. So when I saw an ad offering ten grand just for participating in "environmental adaptation research," I didn’t read the fine print.Big mistake.Next thing I know, I’m waking up in a crashed transport pod on a hellscape of a planet—no water, no supplies, just endless sand and a sun that wants to cook me alive. And then he finds me.Rok is seven feet of golden-skinned, battle-scarred alien warrior with a glare that could melt steel. He moves like a predator, speaks in growls, and—apparently—thinks I belong to him.Turns out, I’m the first female he’s ever seen. And now that he’s imprinted on me, he won’t let me out of his sight.Worse? His body adapts to me. Literally.At first, he was just a terrifying, silent guardian. Now? He’s got a very specific upgrade—one that makes my knees weak and my common sense disappear. Every touch, every growl, every possessive glance sends heat straight to my core.But this planet isn’t done trying to kill me. Between sand serpents, rival clans, and whatever nightmare lurks in the Silent Valley where my sister is trapped, survival is anything but guaranteed.Rok says he’ll protect me. But the deeper we fall into this obsession—this need—the more I realize:If I want to survive this place, I’ll have to trust him.And if I want to keep my heart intact?I’ll have to stop pretending I don’t want to be his. less

The desert holds twenty-seven ways to die. Today, I discover number hallucination-induced cliff diving.When a golden-eyed alien hunter tracks me to my cave, I assume I’ve finally cracked—until he throws me to the ground and light erupts where our skin touches.He doesn’t speak. Doesn’t kill me.Instead, he drops a butterfly earring—my missing sister’s earring—between us like a challenge.Now I have to 1. Trust this glowing stranger who smells like desert storms and moves like a predator.2... moreThe desert holds twenty-seven ways to die. Today, I discover number hallucination-induced cliff diving.When a golden-eyed alien hunter tracks me to my cave, I assume I’ve finally cracked—until he throws me to the ground and light erupts where our skin touches.He doesn’t speak. Doesn’t kill me.Instead, he drops a butterfly earring—my missing sister’s earring—between us like a challenge.Now I have to 1. Trust this glowing stranger who smells like desert storms and moves like a predator.2. Stay here and let the creatures of the dark finish what the Xyma started.Survival just got a hell of a lot more complicated.(First-contact sci-fi romance with forced proximity, survival stakes, and a possessive alien hero who really doesn’t like human screaming.) less

I don’t trust aliens. Especially not the seven-foot-tall, golden-skinned warrior assigned to "protect" me.So when our only water source is suddenly contaminated, I don't buy their story. I volunteer for the mission to find a new well, because the only person I can rely on to keep my friends safe is me. My guide? Sarven, the clan's shadow. Silent. Watchful. And way too observant for my liking.He doesn’t speak much. Doesn’t need to.Not when the air between us crackles every time I get too close... moreI don’t trust aliens. Especially not the seven-foot-tall, golden-skinned warrior assigned to "protect" me.So when our only water source is suddenly contaminated, I don't buy their story. I volunteer for the mission to find a new well, because the only person I can rely on to keep my friends safe is me. My guide? Sarven, the clan's shadow. Silent. Watchful. And way too observant for my liking.He doesn’t speak much. Doesn’t need to.Not when the air between us crackles every time I get too close.He thinks he's my protector. I know he's my keeper.But when we're stranded and the desert itself tries to kill us, the lines start to blur.And suddenly, the heat in his crimson eyes feels less like a threat...And the unspoken promise on his fangs feels a lot like a claim.(First-contact sci-fi romance with forced proximity, survival stakes, and a possessive but devoted alien hero. She's sure he has a hidden agenda. He's sure she's his mate.) less