The Strength of the Pack (Suncoast Society #30)(4)

Nate, personally, had given up actively trying to find someone. If it was meant to happen, it would. He didn’t sleep around and he would admit he had some pretty specific standards. He was okay with being alone. Being thrown into a parenting role at twenty-one had adjusted his world view in a hard and fast way. Forced him to shift his priorities in a way that, even though his sister was now grown up and independent, weren’t easy to change back.

“Okay. Close your eyes and relax for me.”

Nate started placing needles, paying careful attention to how Leo reacted. It was easier to do this now, being familiar with the man and how different treatment protocols worked for him. After about fifteen minutes, Nate sensed the man’s tension begin to ease, which would naturally help with pain relief in the process.

“Any better?”

“Yeah,” Leo said, eyes still closed. “It’s helping. I still don’t get it, but I won’t question it.”

“Common reaction,” Nate told him. “So,” he asked Jesse. “How’s the little one handling things about tomorrow?”

“She’s in flower girl commando mode. I never knew there was such a thing, but she is.”

Eva had sat at a table with Marcia over in the social area and was talking with her out of earshot.

“And Eva? Do you or she need a quick stress relief session?”

Jesse glanced over his shoulder at where Eva sat. He dropped his voice even more. “Maybe we can talk her into it later tonight,” he said. Then a smile crept over his face. “She might be looking for an excuse to duck Tilly and Eliza.”

Nate knew exactly what that meant, but it left him more confused than ever about their arrangement. “Wait, what?”

“Matchmaking,” Leo mumbled, sounding deeply relaxed. “Eva’s under our protection, but she’s single. She’s agreed Jesse and I get to sign off on any prospective matches.”

Nate glanced at Eva again. The first time he’d seen Eva at the club, her hair had been dyed a brassy orangey red that he personally thought hadn’t suited her at all. In fact, it’d almost screamed, “Get away.”

Tonight, her hair was a beautiful rich, dark reddish auburn that looked absolutely perfect on her.

He broke his own code. “Not to be nosy, and feel free to tell me it’s none of my business, but I thought you guys were a poly triad?”

“No,” Jesse said. “We’re a pack. Not quite a leather family.” He smiled. “Leo and I are gay. We love her, but we’re not poly with her.” His expression turned sad. “We just want her to find a good, solid guy who will love her, love our daughter, and be okay with us there as well.”

“Oh.” Nate placed another needle. “At least you have a supportive family behind you all.”

“Well, family by friendship,” Jesse said. “Long, ugly story.”

Nate didn’t press any further. “Still, if you or she wants a session tonight, let me know.”

“Thanks,” Jesse said. “I might take you up on that later. Leo comes first.” He tenderly stroked Leo’s cheek. “Big guy gets priority. Always.”

Even before his involvement in the BDSM community, Nate had friends that ticked multiple boxes all over the rainbow spectrum in terms of gender identity, sexuality, and relationship dynamics. He didn’t care who or what someone was beyond if they were a nice human being or not.

Fortunately, he’d been able to instill that ethic of tolerance in Cherise during her formative years. She’d spent plenty of nights with him while he was studying in school and practicing techniques on classmates and friends. He’d essentially been a single dad skimping by on death benefits from the military for their parents, his own scholarships and grants, and doing cash work on the side giving therapeutic massages, acupuncture treatments, Reiki work, and tutoring classmates in their studies.

At least the house had been paid off by their parents’ life insurance. He’d calculated their average monthly living expenses and set that much aside for six years’ worth of bills so he didn’t have that stress to deal with, at least. And there had been enough for him to go to school without having to work, too, a good thing, since he had Cherise to take care of. He signed her up for pre-paid college benefits to help take the sting out of that. He figured if she didn’t use it, she could cash it in.

Which had left very little money to spare in their budget after the fact, but he had the comfort of knowing they would always have a roof over their heads, electricity, food, and running water.

Where Cherise’s friends had grown up loving My Little Pony and playing with Barbie, she had learned about meridians and Reiki and pressure points and practicing them on her friends’ toys.

When he’d first graduated and started practicing, she’d been his after-hours assistant and appointment scheduler, when she wasn’t in school or doing homework.

By the time Nate finished with Leo, the club had opened and people were starting to gather. Nate helped the man sit up. “Better?”

Leo offered him a smile. “A lot. Thanks. Please add this one to my next bill.”

“Nope. You know what I do here is gratis. Consider it a wedding gift, if you have to.”

“Thanks.”

Jesse got him situated in his wheelchair as Loren walked over to confer with Leo about starting the collaring ceremony.