Beneath a Yankee Sky

By J.M. Snyder

Brance Brenneman is used to harsh conditions -- the eldest son of a stern Amish preacher, Brance was bit by a werecat as a young boy, and managed to keep his secret from his family until he was old enough to leave them and their religion behind. Years later, when the nation is divided by the American Civil War, Brance finds himself enlisted in the Union army. By sheer chance, he meets Caleb Chilson, a Confederate soldier who bears his same shapeshifting burden.

Together they leave the war behind to forge a new life in the wilderness of Pennsylvania. But trappers near their camp are hunting bobcats, and they don't much care if Brance and Caleb are only in the fur part of the time. Brance finds his peaceful existence shattered, and he has to fight to defend the life -- and the bobcat, the man -- he's come to love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Apr 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781611520743

J.M. Snyder

An author of gay erotic romance, J.M. Snyder began self-publishing gay erotic fiction in 2002. Since then, Snyder has worked with several e-publishers, most notably Amber Allure Press and eXcessica Publishing.Snyder’s short fiction has appeared online at Ruthie’s Club, Tit-Elation, Eros Monthly, and Amazon Shorts, as well as in anthologies released by Alyson Books, Cleis Press, and others.For more book excerpts, free fiction, and purchasing information, please visit http://jmsnyder.net.

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Beneath a Yankee Sky

By J.M. Snyder

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2019 J.M. Snyder

ISBN 9781611520743

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

* * * *

Beneath a Yankee Sky

By J.M. Snyder

There was an icy edge to the evening air, a sharpness that rustled the leaves and cut across the babbling creek where Brance Brenneman squatted as he rinsed off his tin plate and cup. Winter’s coming touch tinted that breeze—though it was still September, Brance felt the chill in the heavy Pennsylvania air. It cooled his heated skin when it danced through the bushy auburn hair corkscrewed over his scalp, slipped between the buttons of his old Union shirt to tease over his chest, tickled up his bare legs to prickle the sensitive skin beneath the dingy underpants he wore. Somewhere to the east, a godless battle continued to wage between North and South, pitting brothers against one another in a war none of them wanted. It had been a good six months since he’d left the fight—and his compatriots—behind.

The brand deserter meant nothing to him. He’d grown up with worse names, and suspected there would be others added to the list before he died. As he scrubbed a worn scrap of flannel over his cup, cleaning it with water dipped from the spring, he felt the first stirrings in his gut and knew he’d never fit in among mere men again. He’d live out the rest of his days here, in the woods, where the distinctions between human and animal weren’t so great.

At least he was no longer alone.

* * * *

Trees surrounded him, those to the west taller as the land rolled itself into the foothills of the Appalachians. The sun was already out of sight behind the dense leaves, a few rays of lingering light flashing through the canopy when the wind turned, but the moon had not yet risen so Brance ignored the pain that flared in his midsection. He concentrated on the sounds around him, the birdsong that serenaded the setting sun, the rush of water over rocks, the small yawn from the tent pitched a few yards behind his back. In less than an hour, those sounds would deepen, one minor part in a symphony that would come alive to him in the night. Another tremor twisted his stomach. Not long now.

He heard his name called out behind him. Brance?

The sleepy voice yawned again, louder this time, then he heard muffled curses as Caleb extracted himself from the tent. Brance glanced over his shoulder—the man he’d known more intimately than any other these past few months stood in front of the small tent, nude, and reached for the sky. A leonine yawn escaped his throat as he stretched; each muscle stood out in stark relief on his slim body. His skin was pale, almost hairless, though Brance knew from experience that a fine down of blond fluff covered every inch of that flesh. How many times had he smoothed down the ruffled hair, like so much fur, along Caleb’s arms and legs? How often had his fingers delved into the knot of golden curls now hiding Caleb’s dick from view?

As if aware of Brance’s stare, Caleb drew the stretch out as long as he could. Then his hands dropped to his head, where they scratched through the mussed mop of blond-brown hair that framed his face. Brance watched those hands trail down Caleb’s neck, over his shoulders, along his chest, until they fisted in the patch of curls at his crotch. Cupping his cock and balls, Caleb fondled himself as a wide grin spread across his face. I see you looking, he called out.

Brance’s reply was a wordless grunt before turning back to his dishes. He sensed Caleb’s approach, silent on bare feet, and anticipated his lover’s touch moments before it came. Firm hands found his shoulders, then tickled over the front of Brance’s shirt as Caleb squatted down and caught him in a strong embrace.

Reviews for Beneath a Yankee Sky

[jshillingford_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This sequel to “Under a Confederate Moon” is very well done. In this first story, we’re introduced to Caleb and Brance, two shapeshifters who turn into bobcats for the three days around a full moon. Caleb is in the Confederate Army, and Brance in the Union Army. This novella takes place 6 months after the two become a couple. They’ve both deserted after realizing their paranormal natures and love for one another put them in danger on opposite sides of a war.Brance is fighting to overcome his solitary nature. He loves Caleb, but has trouble expressing his feelings. In the first story we learned how Caleb became a bobcat, and about his boring but happy homelife. Brance’s story is anything but happy. The two men are hiding out in the woods, but soon learn that being deserters is not the only danger they face. Brance must make difficult choices to protect his new mate when hunters enter the forest looking for furs.The first story had more angst and packed a bigger punch since the two men had just met and were almost immediately thrust into danger. This story is more subtle, and heavier on the romance since the two are now a couple. Didn’t make the story less enjoyable, just on a different level. The sex is still frequent, despite the short length. Personally, I would have preferred the author put the two novellas together for a short novel since they are so closely connected. Overall, I highly recommend both novellas and hope Amber Quill decides to release a paperback edition, with a bonus story since I’m being so hopeful anyway!