Between States Box Set

Under a Confederate Moon-5

He approached the small clearing from behind, a mistake he realized when he heard the other bobcat’s menacing growl. Dropping the food, he shook his head to clear his nostrils of the rabbits’ fur. ::It’s just me.::

The growl stopped in surprise, then started up again, louder this time. ::Where did you run off to?::

Anger radiated from Brance like heat from an oven. Caleb suspected his companion had missed his company more than he cared to admit; his gruff question hid his relief that Caleb had returned. Lying down in the grass in a show of submission, Caleb nudged the doe’s still warm body towards Brance. ::I brought you food.::

A wet, quivering nose sniffed at the rabbit, then touched the creased spot above Caleb’s upper lip. No words of thanks…of course not, Caleb thought as he watched Brance tear at the rabbit greedily. Snagging one of the kittens with his claws, Caleb pulled it to him as he rolled onto his side. What kind of man was this creature when he was human? Unable to accept an offer of assistance, or show gratitude when helped? A mountain man, Caleb mused, one of those lone rogues who roamed the woods and kept away from the rest of the world. Or a deserter maybe, scrounging around army camps in search of whatever discarded food he might find.

Or a soldier, like Caleb himself.

His ears flickered in opposite directions, as if shooing flies. Questions consumed him—where was Brance from? How long had he had this condition? When did he get it, and did he know any others with it?

Despite his desire to know, Caleb kept his silence. Brance probably wouldn’t answer, and Caleb didn’t want to be told to shut up again. Just to lay beside another was enough. For now.

Finishing his dinner, Caleb stretched toward Brance and playfully dragged his claws through the thin hair on the other bobcat’s belly. Instantly Brance froze, his growl back. Amused, Caleb flipped onto his stomach. ::Oh, stop it,:: he admonished. With a twitch of his tail in the other cat’s face, he inspected the healing wound in Brance’s leg. ::The blood has stopped.::

When he licked over the wound, Brance caught Caleb’s tail between his teeth. ::Leave it alone.:: He didn’t bite down, but when Caleb tried to tug free, he didn’t let go, either. One hind leg came up to push against Caleb’s forepaw. ::Anyone ever call you troublesome before?::

Ducking under Brance’s leg, Caleb nipped at the bobcat’s exposed belly. ::Just you,:: he replied. ::Why—::

With a guttural cry, Brance turned on him, knocking him to the ground. Caleb found himself on his back, the larger bobcat straddling him, pinning him in place. For one long moment they stared at each other, Brance’s eyes dark above his open mouth, his growl ragged and loud. Caleb waited, at any moment expecting those sharp fangs to sink into his flesh, bite his forepaw or his shoulder, anything to scare him away. The leg he held high against Brance’s inner haunch seemed ineffectual, a joke. He couldn’t hold this cat back. If Brance attacked…

But part of him wanted to flip onto his stomach, raise his tail in the air, present his rump to this beast above him. He wanted to feel Brance in him, piercing him, their cries twin flashes like lightning splitting the night. He had seen the barbs extend on his own c**k when he was in this form; what would the barbs on Brance’s p***s feel like when they locked him into Caleb’s anus? Would it hurt or please him? Almost absently, his hind paw stroked Brance’s abdomen, his claws curling against the other cat, kneading him. Needing him. It’d been so long since he’d been with a man, and the fact that this one wasn’t entirely human turned Caleb on more than he cared to admit.

Slowly, Brance relaxed. His growl trickled away, as if unwilling to be silenced, but he sank down beside Caleb with a heavy sigh. His wounded hind leg kicked out rapidly, then stilled. Dropping his head to the ground, Brance blinked beyond Caleb into the dark trees surrounding them. ::You exhaust me.:: As Caleb rolled to face him, Brance flicked an ear in disdain. ::Put that away.::

Too late, Caleb realized his p***s was fully extended, rigid and hard. He considered licking it for relief, but not with an audience. Instead he withdrew it, the moment lost. Nuzzling closer to Brance, he tried to explain. ::I’ve never met another like us.::

::So you said.::

Caleb pressed his nose into Brance’s fur and breathed deep the bobcat’s wild scent. He sniffed down the other’s belly, and his tongue licked out to taste Brance’s furry ballocks. ::If you wanted to—::

::No.::

But Brance’s legs were splayed beneath him, an open invitation that belied his protest. Biting back a retort, Caleb licked out again, then caught a heavy paw across the side of his face for his efforts. ::I just want—::

Brance kicked him away. ::I’m injured. No.::

Laying his head in his paws, his nose still buried in Brance’s hair, Caleb blew through his nostrils, dejected. ::I only wanted…::

::Hush.::

A large paw fell to his shoulder as if to comfort him. With his stomach full, his libido waning, and a warm body beside his, Caleb felt content. Scooting closer, he burrowed against Brance’s underbelly and, with one last grumble, dropped into a catnap.