Burn: Dragon Shifter Romance

by Ava Frost

  She spotted a rifle leaning against the wall by the front door, grabbed it and ran through the cabin and out the back door.

  Once she was outside, it didn't take long to see what the noise had come from and the clear moonlight made it unmistakable. A grizzly bear stood before her on its hind legs. Jenna gasped. The bear roared and turned towards her. It roared again, except this time it sounded more like a man screaming.

  The bear's body convulsed and it screamed again. Jenna backed up slowly, but held the rifle steady and pointed directly at the bear. She watched in horror as the bear twisted and convulsed, its body slowly changing into something. Jenna thought her eyes were betraying her. She couldn't be seeing what she thought she was seeing, right? But, right in front of her, the animal morphed in something more human like. Still huge, the bear lost its fur and its front legs began to lengthen.

  Its muzzle shortened and its ears moved from the top of its head to the sides. Jenna couldn't look away. As awful as the sight was, the noises the bear made were the worst. Growls mixed with screams and roars mingled with the sound of bone breaking and skin tearing. Then suddenly, it wasn't a bear anymore, it was a man. A man screaming and still sort of growling. And then, just as suddenly, it wasn’t JUST a man - it was Luke.

  "What the hell?" Jenna lowered the rifle and moved a step closer. "Luke?"

  "Stay back," he said. His body convulsed once more and ripples ran through him that must have hurt like hell because he let out a blood-curdling scream. And then, it was over and Jenna was left in the clearing behind the cabin staring at a very naked Luke.

  A few minutes passed in silence while Luke collected himself, breathing heavily. Jenna stood in silence, staring at the man. Suddenly, he moved to get up. Jenna backed away. Luke glanced at her and shook his head.

  "What are you doing here, Ranger?"

  "Um, you left your cell phone in my car. I didn't know when I'd see you again... I brought it back to you..." Her voice trailed off. The two of them stood facing each other. Well, facing each other as best they could. Jenna craned her neck up to look him in the eye and Luke looked down to meet her.

  "Something else, Ranger?"

  "Stop calling me Ranger. Are we not going to talk about what I just saw?"

  Luke laughed humorlessly, "Do you think because I kissed you, I suddenly have to fill you in on everything in my life?

  "Are you serious? I'm not asking you tell me what you're doing next week or if you're seeing anyone else. 5 minutes ago you were a BEAR, Luke. I think that's a little different."

  "Let it go, Ranger." Luke brushed passed Jenna and went into the cabin. Jenna stood for a moment fuming and then turned and followed him in. He was pulling on jeans and didn't turn to look at it her.

  "Stop. Calling. Me. RANGER. Dude. Stop it. And talk to me. Seriously - this is weird, Luke. Freakishly weird and, and - dangerous... And, weird, Luke. You could be sick!" Luke turned to her, a dangerous look in his eyes.

  "Freakishly weird? How dare you. You don't know what you saw, you don't what's going on, you don't even really know me." He was standing right in front of her now, fury etched in his beautiful features. He glared down at Jenna.

  "Luke, I'm sorry, but something is clearly wrong - you need help." Luke exploded.

  "NOTHING is wrong with me! DON'T talk about things you don't understand." Luke had Jenna backed against a wall. His body was shaking again, but this time with anger. Jenna held eye contact with him, but she was terrified. Luke slammed his hands on the wall above Jenna's head. Jenna shrieked.

  "Get out," He said in a dangerously low voice. "Now."

  Jenna threw Luke's cell phone on his couch and ran out the door, slamming it behind her. Luke fell to his knees and rested his head on his hands. "Dammit."

  Luke's phone rang. He slowly stood up and retrieved it from the couch, "Brynn? You and Ty okay? Yeah, I'm on my way."

  Luke got up, looked around the room and sighed. He grabbed a flannel off the bed, threw it on and headed out the door.

  ----

  The next morning, Jenna woke up feeling like she'd been run over by a semi-truck. She was thankful for her tiny cabin just behind the ranger station on a normal day, but today she was extra glad. If she had to drive or hike or in any way commute to work, she probably wouldn't make it. Jenna showered and put on her uniform. She grabbed her bag and walked over to the station, using the ranger's entrance in the back.

  "Sam! I'm here," Jenna yelled into the building. Samantha came back in to the office.

  "Morning, Jen. Last night must've been great!"

  "Oh, I'm sorry - I know I look like crap. It wasn't great though. It was weird and I had... an emergency? And I... do NOT think Luke and I are going to work out." Samantha looked at Jenna like she was crazy.

  "Um, I don't think Luke agrees with you."

  "What? What do you mean?"

  "He's been here for an hour waiting for you." Samantha raised her eyebrows up and smiled. Jenna sighed.

  "Great. Ok," Jenna sat down at a desk and pulled out some paperwork.

  "So, I'll be back here doing paperwork and other senior ranger things. You will be up front manning the station and having an important discussion with our favorite, super-hot wilderness guide." Jenna glared at Samantha.

  "I hate you."

  "I love you, too, kid. Now get up there." Jenna walked out of the office and up to the front of the station. She stopped behind the counter and stood there quietly. Luke watched her for a moment before standing up and stepping towards the counter.

  "Hey," he said softly.

  "Hi."

  "I'm sorry about last night. I'm sure you have a lot of questions and there's a lot I need to tell you," Luke said.

  "You scared me. I didn't know what happened - I still don't know. I'm worried about you and you... you scared me."

  "I'm really, really sorry, Jenna. Will you let me explain? Please."

  Jenna nodded, "Go ahead." Luke glanced behind Jenna into the back room.

  "Don't worry about Sam. She's not coming up unless I ask her to. Now, talk."

  "Alright, I need you to just let me tell you everything before you respond. Just let me tell you everything." Luke stared at Jenna imploringly. She nodded. "Ok. Here goes. I'm a shapeshifter."

  "You're a what?"

  "No - no talking. Just let me tell you. I'm a shapeshifter. My sister is a shapeshifter. My father was a shapeshifter. His father was. His father was. Back and back in our family for generations, probably forever. I shift into a grizzly bear.

  “The thing is, for me, this isn't a big deal. I've been dealing with it my whole life and I was raised in a community of shifters. When you're a kid, though, it's really hard to control and my nephew doesn't have the same community of shifters supporting him that his mom and I had. It's been really hard on him and since his last growth spurt, he's been shifting almost daily.

  “Normally Brynn - my sister - can handle him, but every now and then he gets out and runs. He's mostly playing and exploring - it's more exciting to run as a bear and we're stronger and faster then - but sometimes he gets too close to a camp or a hiking trail. Ty still looks like a baby bear when he shifts, so people aren't afraid of him, but Brynn is an adult, obviously and she shifts into an adult bear.

  “She's been going after him when he runs off and sometimes they both cross paths with people - hence the bear attacks. Word of these attacks have gotten out to hunters and it's brought around a special kind of hunter - big game hunters who go after shifters specifically with big dollar payouts. It's really awful and I'm scared they found us here.

  “Brynn and I have been taking turns watching Ty. She's a nurse and works overnight a few days a week - so I go out and stay with Ty. Last night, while she was getting ready for work, Ty shifted in their cabin and ran off. Brynn couldn't find him and she smelled the hunters nearby. I heard her call when we were in the car at Helen Lake and had to go help."

  "Is your nephew all right?" The two of them stared at eac
h other for a moment and then Luke nodded.

  "Yeah, I found him pretty quickly, thankfully. When I came home to get some things so I could stay over there last night, you found me."

  "Luke. I don't know what to say. This is a lot to take in. I just... I think you should leave."

  "What?"

  "I'm sorry. Please leave." Without another word, Luke turned and left. Jenna sat down in the nearest chair, stunned. What in the world was she supposed to do with that story? Samantha came up from the back.

  "Did Luke leave?" She asked.

  "Yeah," Jenna sighed.

  "Are you guys good?

  "No, Sam. He's got all sorts of crazy issues with his family and... The bears."

  "The bears?"

  "Yeah... you know, he cares a lot," Jenna trailed off.

  "And he has a crazy family?"

  "Yeah, he does."

  "So what?" Samantha stared Jenna down.

  "So, I'm not looking for this kind of drama."

  "Jenna. Jenna. Don't be so selfish. This man's 'drama', whatever it may be, is nothing compared to the man. Think of these things as the pieces that make up Luke's puzzle. You can't tell me you don't have your own stuff."

  "Well, of course I do. But it's not that simple."

  "Jen. Do you like him?" Jenna took a long time to respond.

  "Yes. I do. A lot."

  "Then nothing else matters. You can make the rest work," Samantha folded her arms and held eye contact with Jenna.

  "Shit, Sam. You're right. Mind if I take off for little bit?"

  "What're you still doing here?" They smiled at each other and Jenna ran out the door.

  Chapter 5

  Jenna knocked tentatively on Luke's cabin door.

  "Coming!" She heard him shout from inside. A moment later the door opened. After a long moment of eye contact, Luke stepped back and motioned for her to come in.

  "Luke, I'm sorry. I'm terrible. You poured your heart out to me and I... I... I was terrible to you."

  "You were pretty awful." Luke smiled softly at her.

  "I'm so sorry - you're not a freak or weird, you're wonderful. And I think you're just -" Luke cut her off with a kiss. It was soft at first, while Jenna stood there, stunned. Then Jenna threw her arms around his neck and soft was a thing of the past. Luke let loose, backing her into the wall. He pressed her hands over her head with one hand and unbuttoned her shirt. Jenna threw her head back and he sucked on the spot just under her ear that drove her insane.

  "Jenna," Luke growled, "We're not stopping this time. So before we go any further - you need to tell me it's ok."

  "Yes," Jenna said, "Please."

  That was the consent Luke needed. He ripped her shirt the rest of the way off and let go of Jenna's hands. She made short work of his shirt and ran her hands over his firm, tan chest. She leaned down and gently flicked each of his nipples with her tongue. Luke groaned and wrapped his hand in the back of her hair. He pulled her back up to him and their lips crashed together in a fiery kiss.

  Luke moved Jenna over to the bed and pushed her down. He unbuttoned her pants, slid them down her thighs and off on to the floor. He stood over her for a moment, taking in the sight of her and slowly moved his fingers up her leg. He lightly rubbed her mound and Jenna groaned. He knelt on the bed and leaned down to kiss her. She reached up to pull him toward her.

  "Ah, ah, ah. Not yet." Luke pulled away and held her hands over head again with one hand. The other hand continued its journey between her legs. He loved seeing how sensitive she was to each change in pressure and new sensation. He ran one finger across her swollen clit and then plunged it inside of her.

  He pumped one finger in and out, taking pleasure in her walls clamping down. Jenna moaned and Luke inserted a second finger. Jenna gasped and tilted her hips to meet him. He smiled at her and sped up the thrusting. He moved his thumb to her clit.

  Jenna could feel the familiar sensation deep in her building up. Luke inserted a third finger and rubbed his thumb in a faster circle. He leaned down and kissed Jenna deeply, thrusting his tongue in time with his hand. He released her hands and moved his hand to her breast, twisting and pulling her nipple. The combination of sensations overwhelmed Jenna.

  "Let yourself go, Jen," Luke whispered. At the sound of his voice, Jenna let go. The wave of orgasm rolled over her. When she stopped convulsing, Luke started to move his hand again.

  "Luke... Luke... stop." Luke glanced down at her with a smirk and stilled his hand, but left it right where it was. He raised an eyebrow.

  "Yes?"

  "You're wearing way too much clothing." Jenna smiled at Luke and he laughed.

  "Well, let me fix that." Luke stood up and unbuckled his jeans. He pulled them down with his boxers and stood in front of the bed in all his glory. Jenna held back a moan and instead just smiled.

  "You are beautiful, Luke," Jenna said breathlessly. Luke climbed over her, his hands on either side of her head, leaned down and kissed her.

  "YOU are beautiful, Ranger." He pulled back and looked at her for one long minute, then he lowered himself down and hitched her legs up on either side. They locked eyes and he slowly thrust in, letting her feel every inch of him and enjoying the sensation of her stretching to accommodate him. Jenna wrapped her legs around him and pushed her hips up to meet his.

  "Faster, Luke. Please, faster."

  Luke didn't need any more encouragement than that. He began thrusting faster and she met him thrust for thrust.

  They kissed passionately, moving from lips to their necks and back to their lips. Luke shifted his position so he could thrust and rub her clit at the same time. It was too much for Jenna.

  "Luke, I'm going to... I'm almost there..." One more hard, deep thrust and Luke sent Jenna over the edge. She screamed his name as her second orgasm hit her. Her walls convulsed around Luke and he couldn't hang on any longer. He came moments later, shouting her name.

  They both lay in bed, Luke still on top of and inside Jenna for a gloriously long time. Finally he rolled off and they settled themselves under the covers. Jenna curled into Luke's side and rested her head on his chest.

  "Luke, that was..."

  "...incredible?" Luke asked. Jenna nodded and he kissed her on top of the head.

  "Yes, incredible." They talked a little bit, about nothing important and before she knew, Jenna had fallen asleep.

  Chapter 6

  Knock, knock. Jenna slowly woke up and wondered what the pounding noise she heard was. Sunlight still lit the room, but in the warm light of the late afternoon. Jenna rolled over to ask Luke what the noise was, but she found the bed empty. Knock, knock. Bang. Bang. The door. It must be the door.

  Jenna got out of bed and put on the first thing that would cover her halfway decently - one of Luke's soft flannel shirts. She opened the door. Two men stood staring back at her. Her instincts immediately kicked in and she took stock of the two men. Both under 6 feet tall, but heavyset. One with red hair and blue eyes, clean shaven. One with graying brown hair, a full beard and the same blue eyes. Brothers or a father and son? They each held a rifle loosely at their sides. Jenna smiled at them.

  "Hi. How can I help you?"

  "Well, afternoon, ma'am. I apologize, but I thought a man by the name Luke Perotta lived here," the older one said.

  "You'd be correct, Sir. I'm just visiting." The two men shared a look between them. They younger man leered at Jenna.

  "Mind gettin' Perotta for us, darlin'?"

  "He's actually stepped out, Mr...?"

  "Townsend. Allen Townsend. This is my father Norm," Allen gestured to his father and grinned and Jenna, "And you are?"

  She smiled at the two men, "Ranger Jenna Lawton. Nice to meet you both. Like I said, Luke isn't here - anything I can do for you?"

  "No thank you, young lady," Norm said, "If you'd tell Mr. Perotta we were here to discuss the bear situation. He has my number."

  Jenna nodded, "Will do. Have a good one, folks." Jenna shut the door and
moved to a spot in the cabin where she could see out the window. She watched the Townsends pull away. Once she was sure they were gone, Jenna pulled out her phone and called Luke.

  "Hey beautiful, you're up," his deep voice came through the phone loud and clear. "Ready for another go?"

  "Luke. Where did you go?"

  "I'm sorry, Jen. I got called away on camp business. I'll be back soon. Everything okay?"

  "Probably, but you just had some visitors that left me with a bad feeling."

  "Tell me about them." Jenna recounted the story of the visit from Norm and Allen Townsend.

  "Jenna, did they give you a name?"

  "Yeah, Townsend?"

  "Shit. Jenna - remember the hunters I told you about?"

  "Oh, no. Luke, are these guys hunting you and your family?" Jenna asked, nervously.

  "Yeah, they've been sniffing around for a while. Will you do me a favor?"

  "Of course, anything, Luke."

  "Go check on Brynn and Ty? They live in a cabin about 5 miles away from my cabin, further from camp. I'll text you the coordinates."

  "Yes, Luke, of course. I'll let you know when I get there that they're okay. Talk soon?"

  "Yeah. Talk soon. Oh, and Jenna?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Thank you."

  Jenna followed the coordinates up to the cabin where Luke's sister and nephew lived and easily found the cabin tucked in a clearing in the woods. A tall woman with long brown hair sat on the front porch, drinking tea. She laughed as a little boy, about 6 years old, animatedly told her a story. Jenna smiled as she approached.

  "Brynn?" The woman glanced up at Jenna, concern on her face.

  "Yes?" She reached out her hand to the little boy and he sat next to her on the porch. Realization dawned as she smiled back at Jenna, "You must be Jenna."

  "Yes, you're Brynn... and you must be Ty," she smiled at the small boy, "I'm sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but we have a bit of an emergency. Hunters came to Luke's cabin. I think we should clear out of here for a bit –"

  "Ranger Lawton, back away from the monsters." Jenna, Brynn and Ty all turned to look. Alan and Norm came stalked slowly towards them from the woods, rifles raised and aimed at Brynn and Ty.