Page 22 of Power Play Daddies (Miami Icemen #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Beau

The elevator ride feels longer than it should, my nerves scratching at me like an itch I can’t reach.

All I’ve been able to think about since Daisy called is her voice, soft and nervous, asking me to come over.

I didn’t ask how she got my number because, honestly, I didn’t care. She wanted me there. That was all that mattered.

Still, something feels… off.

I glance down at the bouquet of daisies in my hand. Yeah, I’m a sap for picking them, but it’s her damn name. It’s like they were calling to me, and I couldn’t say no.

I tug at my shirt collar as the elevator dings, announcing I’ve reached her floor.

What’s got me this twisted? It’s just Daisy.

Except it’s not just Daisy, is it?

I step out into the hall, hoping I don’t run into my cousin who lives in this building. The last thing I need is him busting my balls for showing up with flowers.

I take a deep breath at her door, trying to settle the restlessness clawing at me.

Knocking once, I shift my weight from foot to foot. The door swings open, and there she is.

Her hair’s loose, a mess of curls the color of fire, and she’s wearing these little cutoff shorts and a tank top that’s barely hanging on. She’s holding a tiny black kitten that’s batting at her curls.

“Hey,” I say, my throat suddenly dry.

“Hey,” she answers, smiling. That smile knocks me sideways every damn time. “Come in.”

I step inside, and that’s when I see them.

Mason’s on the couch, a beer in his hand, looking like he’s settled in for the long haul. And next to him is Kieran, sipping wine.

What the hell?

“Hey,” I manage, leaning in to hug Daisy and handing her the flowers. “These are for you.”

She lights up, holding them close. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She strokes the kitten’s head. “This is Slim.”

Before I can say anything, Kieran stands and takes the flowers. “I’ll put these in water, baby,” he says, heading to the kitchen like he belongs here.

Baby?

I sit down, my mind spinning. Daisy offers me a drink, and I latch onto the distraction. “A beer’s great.”

She disappears into the kitchen and returns with a bottle. Her fingers brush mine as she hands it over, and something tightens in my chest.

She clears her throat and runs a hand through her hair, looking everywhere but at me.

“What’s going on?” Mason finally asks, breaking the awkward silence.

Daisy flushes, her cheeks turning that telltale pink. Kieran pulls her to his side, his hand on her face like he’s calming her. My stomach twists.

“What’s happening?” I ask, taking a long swig of beer.

“Daisy, breathe,” Kieran murmurs. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

“I’m getting nervous,” Mason says. “Can someone just spill already?”

He looks at me, but I just shake my head. Whatever is going on here is a mystery to him as it is to me.

Daisy nods, glancing between us. She swallows hard, then looks at me.

“Come here,” I say, patting my lap.

She hesitates, then walks over and sits, curling into me like she belongs there. I put the beer down and wrap my arms around her, holding her close.

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with something I can’t quite read. “This is… big news.”

“Tell me,” I whisper, my voice steady even though my mind is racing.

She glances at the other two men. Mason looks as confused as I feel, but Kieran’s watching her like he already knows what’s coming.

“I’m pregnant,” she says quietly, the words nearly drowned out by the soft whir of the air conditioning.

The words slam into me like a puck to the gut.

“Wait, what?” Mason says, sitting up straighter.

“I just found out,” Daisy says quickly. “I… I don’t know who the father is.”

The room goes silent. My grip on her tightens as my brain tries to process what she’s just dropped. She explains that she always used protection, but it still happened.

“So, it’s… one of us?” Mason asks, his voice uneven.

She nods. “Yes.”

“Well, shit,” I mutter, running a hand over my face. My pulse is hammering, my thoughts drifting back to the night we met. How is this possible?

“Are you okay?” Mason asks her, his voice calm, soothing. Of course he’s the one who keeps it together while I’m about to crash.

“I’m fine. Just… scared,” she admits, her fingers twisting in the hem of her shirt.

Mason leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Concern is written all over him as he speaks—not about the news, but about Daisy. “Look, this isn’t how I thought tonight was gonna go, but… Whatever you need, I’m here.”

That’s what brings me to my senses.

This isn’t about me. It’s about her.

“Yeah. Same. We’ll figure this out," I say.

Kieran nods, his hand still on her shoulder. “You’re not doing this alone, Daisy. We’ve got you. I told you they would be okay with this.”

Her shoulders relax a little, and she lets out a shaky laugh. “You guys are something else.”

Mason stands and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small box. “I actually brought you something,” he says, kneeling in front of her.

“What is it?” she asks, her voice lightening a bit.

He opens the box, revealing a delicate anklet. “It’s engraved. Thought it might make you smile.”

She stares at it, her eyes wide, then lifts her leg slightly so he can clasp it around her ankle.

My cock stirs as I watch him, the memory of past nights flashing in my mind. Sharing women with Mason isn’t new, but this… this feels different.

“Thank you,” Daisy says softly, looking between the three of us.

“We mean it,” I say, pulling her closer. “We’re in this with you. All the way.”

Kieran claps his hands together. “All right, I’m starving. How about we order some food?”

Daisy laughs, the tension in her shoulders easing even more. She stands, and I watch her move, every curve of her body reminding me why I’m here.

She’s still the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, and now, she’s going to be more than that.

A lot more.

Half an hour later, we’re all sitting around Daisy’s small dining table, a mix of takeout containers spread out like a buffet.

Chinese, because Mason decided nothing beats greasy noodles when you’re processing life-altering news. It’s kind of absurd, but here we are.

I’m quiet, mostly picking at my food. Daisy’s on the other side of the table, wedged between Mason and Kieran, and she’s holding her chopsticks like they’re a lifeline. Her hands are small, delicate, but steady enough.

I’m really trying to process everything because my brain’s been turned inside out since she said, “I’m pregnant.”

Mason’s leaning back in his chair, his arms sprawled out like we’re just casually shooting the shit. “So,” he says between bites of sesame chicken, “this is a little… unconventional.”

“A little?” Daisy shoots him a look. “Try a lot.”

Mason smirks. “Come on, it’s not like we’ve never shared things before.” His tone’s light, but the comment lands like a punch.

Kieran raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, maybe you two, but not me. Also, those things didn’t have an uncle who’s also our coach.”

Daisy groans, burying her face in her hands. “Oh god, Uncle Ace is going to kill me.”

“No, he’s going to kill us,” I say, finally speaking up. My voice sounds rough, like I’ve been gargling gravel. I clear my throat and reach for a dumpling. “We’re the ones who… well, you know.”

Kieran snorts. “Very articulate, Beau. Real smooth.”

“Fuck off,” I say, shoving a dumpling into my mouth.

Daisy sighs, pulling her hands away from her face. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes dart between us. “This is weird, right? I mean, it’s not just me? This is uncharted territory.”

“It is,” Mason says, nodding, “but we’ll figure it out. You were saying you’ll hold off on the DNA testing until the birth, right?”

I glance at him, then at Kieran, who’s got his arm slung casually over the back of Daisy’s chair. It’s possessive, and it grates on my nerves, but I swallow it down. For now.

“Yes. If you guys don’t mind,” she says softly.

“We’re all here,” Kieran says, his voice steady. “We’re not going anywhere. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, you’ve got us.”

Daisy blinks, her lips parting like she doesn’t quite know how to respond. “That’s... I appreciate it. All of you. Really.”

Mason grins. “Don’t get all emotional on us now. We’ll be at every doctor’s appointment, every Lamaze class. Hell, we’ll even argue over who gets to hold the baby first.”

Daisy laughs softly, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love it,” Mason quips, reaching for an egg roll.

The conversation drifts to logistics—who’ll be her emergency contact, how we’ll navigate schedules with our careers, and her pregnancy.

It’s surreal, sitting here like this, talking about baby stuff with two other guys who’ve also been inside her. But Daisy looks lighter, like some of the weight she’s been carrying has been lifted.

Around nine, the containers are mostly empty, and the energy’s shifted. Kieran stretches, his hand brushing Daisy’s shoulder.

“I’ll stay here tonight,” he says.

Daisy smiles, a small, grateful thing that makes my chest tighten. “Thanks.”

She stands, walking us to the door. One by one, we hug her goodnight. When it’s my turn, I linger, my arms wrapped around her a little too long.

“Goodnight, Beau,” she whispers, pulling back.

“Yeah, goodnight,” I say, stepping away and stuffing my hands in my pockets.

By the time I get back to my penthouse, the adrenaline’s worn off, leaving me drained and restless all at once. The lights are dim, the space eerily quiet. It doesn’t feel like home tonight.

I head to my bedroom, peeling off my jacket as I go. I’m halfway to the shower when I see them—lavender lace panties, draped over the armrest of the chair by the window.

My breath catches. They’re hers. From that first night.

The memories hit me like a freight train—her body under mine, the way she moaned my name, how her nails raked down my back.

My cock stirs, hardening almost painfully as I stare at the scrap of fabric.

“Fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair.

I’m moving before I realize it, my pants unzipped, shoved down to my thighs. My hand wraps around my shaft, and the first stroke is almost too much.

Images flood my mind—Daisy, naked, writhing, her lips parted in a breathless gasp.

It’s not just her, though. Mason’s there, too, his hands on her hips, his mouth on her neck.

And Kieran, leaning over her, whispering things I can’t hear but somehow know are filthy. The thought shouldn’t turn me on, but it does.

I fist myself harder, the friction almost brutal, and my breathing turns ragged. “Daisy,” I groan, her name slipping out like a curse.

My release hits me like a wave, violent and consuming.

I slump against the chair, my forehead resting on my arm. My heart’s racing, my body still trembling with the aftershocks.

The shower’s scalding, washing away the evidence of my weakness, but not the thoughts. They cling, stubborn and unrelenting. By the time I’m back in my bedroom, the exhaustion’s a physical thing.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I pick it up and see a new group chat notification.

“Daisy’s Baby Daddies,” it says.

I blink, then open it. Kieran’s created the chat and added me, Mason, and Daisy. The first message is from him:

Ground rules. No one’s allowed to scare the shit out of her. That’s my job.

Mason responds.

We’re off to a great start.

Then Daisy.

I hate you all.

I snort, the ridiculousness of it all hitting me like a punchline to some cosmic joke.

As I lie back on the bed, the phone still in my hand, my eyes drift closed. My last thought before sleep claims me is of her—Daisy, her smile, her laugh, her goddamn lavender panties.

My Daisy.

No. Not mine.

Ours.

Our Daisy.

And just like that, I’m gone.