Page 10 of Power Play Daddies (Miami Icemen #1)

CHAPTER NINE

Kieran

The taco truck’s parked where it always is, under the flickering neon sign of Manny’s Tires.

It’s the kind of place you’d miss if you didn’t know better, but the line winding from the truck proves it’s worth it.

I park the bike and tug off my helmet, raking a hand through my hair. The air smells like grilled onions and carne asada—heaven.

Then I see her.

She’s standing near the front of the line, the red dress swapped out for something simpler, but those damn waves of copper hair are unmistakable.

She’s holding a taco in one hand, a small bottle of soda in the other, and I swear the universe just handed me a golden fucking ticket.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I say, loud enough for her to hear as I walk up.

She turns, startled, but when she sees me, a smile tugs at her lips. “Kieran? What’re you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. This, Daisy, is fate. Or maybe just really good taste in tacos.” I nod toward her half-eaten taco. “How is it?”

She laughs softly. “Best in the city. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. My dad used to bring me after work. Said a good taco could fix anything.”

“Smart man. I started coming here after games. Win or lose, it’s my go-to.”

“Did you win tonight?”

“I won a lot. Didn’t you?”

Her eyes narrow, a teasing glint in them. “What makes you think I won something?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?” I step closer, hands in my jacket pockets. “Besides, I know exactly what I won today.”

“Oh?” She arches a brow. “What’s that?”

I lean in just a fraction, smirking. “I got to ride my bike with the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

Her cheeks flush, and her eyes drop to the pavement. She licks her lips, and I swear, the way she does it is deliberate. It’s got to be. That’s not something people do by accident, right?

“Kieran…” Her voice is softer now. “This is… complicated.”

“Yeah, I get it.” I shrug, trying to keep it casual, even though my chest tightens a bit. “Tacos first, complications later.”

She laughs again, lighter this time, and the sound does things to me I can’t quite put into words. We order and eat by the curb, leaning against a beat-up picnic table.

She tells me about growing up nearby, her dad’s stories about this place. I tell her about coming here after games, how it became a tradition with my buddies.

“You’re really something, you know that?” I say between bites.

She gives me a curious look. “Something good or something bad?”

“Good,” I say, without hesitation. “Really fucking good.”

When we’re done, I take her tray and toss it in the trash. She stretches a little, letting out a soft sigh as she looks up at the sky, and it hits me just how naturally beautiful she is.

“Pretty night,” she says.

“Yeah,” I reply, not looking at the sky at all.

Her gaze shifts to me, catching me staring. She doesn’t call me out on it, just ducks her head a bit, smiling to herself.

“You got the lens with you?” I ask.

Her eyes widen. “Yeah, it’s in my car.”

“Let’s test it. Give it here.” I hold out my hand as we walk to her SUV.

She opens the back, pulling out the lens, and handing it to me. I take it carefully, inspecting it under the dim parking lot light, then twist it onto her camera, power it up, and point it toward the horizon.

The colors pop through the lens—rich oranges and purples blending into deep blue. Perfect.

“Not bad,” I say. Then I turn the camera toward her, snapping a quick shot.

“Hey!” she protests, laughing.

I glance at the screen, and my breath catches. “Damn. Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

She peers over, looking at the photo. “The sky’s amazing tonight.”

“I wasn’t talking about the sky.”

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, it’s like everything else disappears. She thanks me softly, and before I can think twice, I lean in, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Her skin’s warm, soft. She turns slightly, and our faces are so close, I can count the gold flecks in her hazel eyes.

My thumb brushes her bottom lip. She exhales shakily, and it’s like a magnet that pulls me closer.

“You okay?” I ask, my voice low.

She nods.

“Can I kiss you?” I ask, even quieter now.

Her lips part, and she hesitates, just for a second. “It’s complicated,” she says again.

“So am I.” I smirk, my thumb still tracing her lip. “Can I still kiss you?”

This time, she nods—barely moving, but it’s enough.

I close the gap slowly, giving her every chance to pull back, to change her mind. But she doesn’t. Her lips meet mine, soft at first, then bolder, like she’s testing the waters and diving in all at once.

Her hands grip the front of my jacket, pulling me closer, and it’s everything. Her taste, her scent, the way she melts into me—it’s a fucking masterpiece.

When we finally break apart, her eyes are locked on mine, wide and a little dazed.

“Still complicated?” I ask, grinning.

Her lips curve into a small smile. “Definitely.”

“Good,” I say, stepping back, even though every part of me wants to keep her right there. “Complicated is kind of my thing.”

She’s standing there, biting her lip like she’s debating with herself. Damn, it’s sexy watching her wrestle with whatever thought’s spinning in her head.

“Look,” she starts, her voice low but steady, “I don’t want to mess with the project.”

I laugh. Can’t help it. She’s overthinking, and it’s adorable as hell. “Mess with it? You’re acting like you’re trying to convince yourself not to kiss me.”

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip again, and this time I swear it’s deliberate. “Actually… I’m looking for reasons why I shouldn’t. ”

That does it. I take a step closer, the space between us shrinking fast. “How’d you even change so quick?” I ask, tilting my head, the grin already tugging at my lips. “You were in that dress a minute ago.”

“My house is close,” she says, shrugging like it’s no big deal.

Fuck. My place isn’t far either. “Yeah? Same here.”

Her eyes widen just a little, her lips parting. “Really?”

“Ten minutes. Tops.” I tell her my apartment’s address.

“That’s close to where I live.” Her voice gets softer, and she glances away, like she’s not sure where this is going.

I lean in and kiss her cheek again, lingering just enough to leave her wanting more. “Tonight was good,” I say, my voice dropping. “Doesn’t have to stop, you know.”

Her breath hitches. “What are you saying?”

I take another half-step, so close now that I can feel the heat from her body.

“This is what we’ll do. You get in your car.

I’ll get on my bike. We’ll drive. When we get to your place, you can pull into your lot and head inside…

or —” I pause, letting the weight of the moment hang between us. “You can follow me home.”

Her lips part again, her breathing a little quicker. “Okay,” she says, barely audible.

I turn to walk back to my bike, but her voice stops me.

“Wait.”

I glance back, one brow raised. “What is it?”

She surprises me, stepping closer and cupping my face. Before I can even process it, her lips are on mine. It’s soft at first, tentative, but then she leans into it, and suddenly it’s anything but soft.

“Fuck,” I murmur against her mouth, sliding a hand to her waist. “You’re full of surprises.”

She pulls back just enough to speak, her lips brushing mine. “You’re distracting.”

“Distracting, huh?” I grin, but it fades quickly when she kisses me again, this time harder. My hand tightens on her hip, dragging her closer. The way her body melts into mine—it’s enough to make a man lose his mind.

I pull back, just barely, my forehead resting against hers. “Don’t get greedy,” I whisper, my thumb brushing over her swollen bottom lip. “You know where to find me.”

Her cheeks flush, but she nods. “Okay.”

“Good girl,” I say and head back to my bike, throwing a leg over it. She climbs into her car, her taillights glowing as she starts it up. I rev the engine, watching her pull out before I follow.

The ride’s quiet, the cool night air rushing past me. Every now and then, I catch glimpses of her car ahead. My cock twitches when we pass her apartment building, and I know it’s done. She’s not stopping there. She’s coming home with me.

By the time I pull into my lot, she’s right behind me. I park and wait, watching her climb out of the car. She stands there, staring at me like she’s not sure what happens next.

“You’re here,” I say, my voice rougher than I intended.

She nods, her teeth sinking into her lip again. Fuck, that mouth is gonna kill me.

I walk over, closing the distance in a few long strides. The second I’m close enough, I grab her waist and pull her to me. Our mouths crash together, and this time it’s anything but tentative. It’s messy and desperate, all tongue and teeth.

Her back hits the car as I press her against it, my hands sliding down to her hips. She moans into my mouth when I grind against her, her thighs parting just enough for me to fit between them.

“Poor baby,” I whisper, my lips trailing down her neck as she arches against me. “Can’t wait, can you?”

Her hands grip my shoulders, her nails digging in as she grinds back. “Inside,” she gasps, her voice shaky. “Take me inside.”

I pull back just enough to look at her, my lips quirking into a grin. “Whatever you want, baby.”

She doesn’t let go of me as we head to the door, her hands clutching my jacket like she’s afraid I’ll disappear. Once we’re inside, I kick the door shut behind us, spinning her around and pinning her against it.

Her hands slide into my hair, tugging me down for another kiss. This one’s slower, deeper, but no less intense. My hands roam, sliding under her shirt to feel the warmth of her skin.

“You sure about this?” I ask, my lips brushing against her ear.

She nods, her breathing quick. “Stop talking.”

“Bossy,” I tease, but I’m already lifting her into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist, her heels digging into my back as I carry her to the bedroom.

By the time we hit the bed, we’re a mess of tangled limbs and half-muttered curses. Clothes hit the floor in a blur, and then it’s just skin on skin, heat and need taking over.

Her hands are everywhere, her nails scraping down my back as I press her into the mattress. “Kieran,” she gasps, my name a broken whisper on her lips.

“Yeah, baby,” I murmur, my lips trailing down her neck. “I’ve got you.”