Forbidden Rhythms

Chapter 1: The Ride That Changed Everything

Ellie hadn’t been on a piggyback ride since she was a kid, but there she was, straddling her stepfather Rick’s broad shoulders in the middle of their sprawling backyard. The summer heat clung to their skin, a sticky sheen of sweat already forming as they laughed through the overgrown grass. At twenty-five, Ellie was no lightweight, but Rick insisted, his deep voice teasing as he hoisted her up with ease.

‘Come on, El, let’s see if I’ve still got it,’ he’d said, winking with that roguish charm that always made her stomach flip in ways she refused to acknowledge. ‘Don’t tell me you’re too grown for a little fun.’

‘Fun?’ Ellie shot back, her tone sharp as she gripped his shoulders, her thighs clamping around his neck. ‘This is a liability lawsuit waiting to happen, Rick. If you drop me, I’m suing for emotional distress.’

He chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through her core as he adjusted his grip, one hand steadying her lower back while the other—oh, fuck—brushed just a little too close to the curve of her ass. She tensed, her breath catching as his thumb grazed the seam of her shorts, teasing the sensitive line of her crack with an almost deliberate slowness. Was he doing this on purpose? No, couldn’t be. But the heat pooling between her legs didn’t care about logic.

‘Relax, princess,’ Rick drawled, his voice dripping with mischief as he bucked his knees slightly, making her bounce against him. ‘I’ve got you. Wouldn’t dream of letting this fine ass hit the ground.’

Ellie’s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on his shoulders as she leaned down, her lips dangerously close to his ear. ‘Call me princess again, and I’ll make sure you’re the one on the ground, old man. And watch those hands—I’m not one of your bar floozies.’

‘Old man?’ Rick barked a laugh, his thumb pressing just a fraction harder against her, sending a jolt straight to her core. ‘I’ve got moves that’d make you blush, El. Don’t tempt me to prove it.’

Her pulse raced, a dangerous cocktail of irritation and raw, unbidden desire swirling in her chest. She should’ve hopped off right then, called him out, set a boundary. But instead, she shifted her hips, testing him, feeling the heat of his body through the thin fabric of her shorts. ‘Moves, huh? All I see is a guy struggling to keep up. Maybe you’re the one who needs a ride.’

Rick’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh as he turned his head just enough to catch her eye, a wicked glint flashing in his gaze. ‘Keep talking like that, and I might just show you how hard I can ride.’

The air between them crackled, heavy with unspoken tension. Ellie’s breath hitched, her mind screaming to stop while her body ached for more. She could feel the heat of his skin, the strength in his hands, and damn it, she was getting wet just thinking about where this could go. They were teetering on the edge of something forbidden, something explosive—and as Rick took a slow, deliberate step forward, his thumb still teasing her ass, she knew they were about to crash right over it.