J.M. Snyder

Once a Yankee soldier, Brance Brenneman has left the War Between the States behind and gone into hiding with his lover, former Confederate Caleb Chilson. Deserters intent on keeping to themselves, they find a nice, sparse acre of land where they can finally settle down. Life falls into domesticated routine for both the brooding Yank and the excitable Rebel. Together they struggle to create a more perfect union forged of love and their shared shapeshifting secret.<br><br>But the discovery of another bobcat encroaching on their territory brings out the possessive alley cat in Caleb, eager to defend his home and his mate. Will the newcomer destroy what they've worked so hard to attain? Or is there room enough for the three of them deep in the wilderness of Pennsylvania?

A More Perfect Union

“Caleb,”Brance said with a shrug,but the movement only settled their bodies closer together.


Burrowing his face in his lover’s hair,Caleb murmured,“Hmm?”Then another jolt of pain shot through him,and he clenched his arms tight around Brance’s waist.“God,that hurts.”


Turning in his embrace,Brance caught Caleb’s hands in his,their fingers entwining.His scruffy beard tickled Caleb’s bare cheek as he nuzzled closerto plant a kiss beneath Caleb’s jaw.He wrapped Caleb’s arms around him again,and Caleb bunched his hands in the seat of Brance’s pants.Then Brance began to unbutton Caleb’s shirt,complementing each undone button with a kiss—on his earlobe,on his neck,on his chin.“Let’s get you out of this,”he said,his gruff voice unusually quiet between them.


Chapter 17