Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤1 Barefoot 🕷

The air buzzed with an electric tension as Stephen Bonnet and his crew approached the ancient stones. Maria lay unconscious in the grass, the remnants of her journey through time evident in her disheveled hair and the remnants of her clothing.

"Look at this one, lads," one crewman said, his voice dripping with mischief. "A fine prize for our captain, eh?"

Laughter erupted among them, a cruel undertone lacing their words. As Maria began to stir, her eyes fluttering open, she instinctively sensed the threat looming above her. Panic surged through her, and in a burst of instinct, she shot upright and bolted into the woods, her bare feet barely whispering against the cool earth.

"Oi! Where do you think you're going?" one of the men shouted, laughter turning to surprise.

Stephen Bonnet the captain of the ship, intrigued by the sudden shift, watched as Maria dashed away. There was something primal about her flight that ignited a fire in him. "Let her run," he said, a dangerous grin creeping across his face. "This will be fun."

With surprising speed, he took off after her, his long strides closing the distance between them. As he chased her, the air filled with the thrill of the hunt-his intentions a tantalizing mystery. He reveled in the chase, feeling the rush of adrenaline as he maneuvered through the trees, the laughter of his crew fading behind him.

"Run all you like, lass!" he called, his voice a dark melody, filled with both challenge and charm. "You won't escape me that easily!"

Maria's heart raced as she charged up the steep hill, the weight of her fear pushing her forward. The terrain was uneven, and she stumbled, her feet slipping on the loose stones. Glancing back, she caught sight of Stephen, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching her struggle with an almost predatory interest.

"Having a bit of trouble, are we?" he called out mockingly, the charm in his voice undercut by a hint of danger. "Need a hand?"

She shot him a defiant glare, pushing herself to climb higher, but the effort only seemed to amuse him more. As she stumbled again, he chuckled, the sound rich with a dark thrill. He took off after her, the distance between them closing rapidly.

"Let's see how brave you are up there," he taunted, catching up with her as she reached a flat spot at the top of the hill.

Before she could regain her footing, he reached out and yanked her back, gripping the fabric of her dress with surprising force. She gasped as he pulled her down, his touch rough but not without a strange allure. He was close enough now that she could see the flicker of intrigue in his eyes, a spark ignited by the tattoo peeking from her shoulder-a symbol of a world he could hardly comprehend.

"Now, why would a lass like you have such a mark?" he questioned, his voice low and teasing, his grip unyielding. "Care to explain, or do I need to make you?"

As he dragged her back down the hill, his playful yet possessive demeanor sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins, both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

"Let me go!" Maria shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance. Confusion swirled in her mind-what had happened at the stones? Who was this man in the antique clothing, and why did he seem so amused by her predicament?

Stephen dropped her suddenly, causing her to stumble and fall onto her back in the grass. Pain shot through her as she glared up at him, brushing dirt and blades of grass from her clothes with a fierce determination. He loomed above her, arms crossed, an infuriating grin spreading across his face.

"Such spirit!" he teased, his voice dripping with mockery. "But tell me, lass, why do you wear so little? You must be cold out here."

His eyes sparkled with amusement as he took in her attire, and he seemed to savor the confusion and vulnerability that surrounded her. Yet Maria refused to let herself be intimidated. She pushed herself up, her heart racing, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"I don't know who you are or what you want," she shot back, her voice steady despite the situation. "But I'm not afraid of you."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her resolve. "Oh, but you should be," he replied, leaning in slightly, his tone teasing yet carrying an undeniable edge. "You're a long way from home, and I could make your stay quite... interesting."

His words hung in the air, a promise laced with danger. Maria felt her heart race not with attraction, but with the thrill of defiance. She would not give in to his charm-she had to find a way out of this.

Stephen's grin faltered slightly as he leaned closer, his expression shifting to something more serious. "You know," he said, his voice low and deliberate, "this forest is dangerous for a woman dressed as you are. Full of crooks and men with less noble intentions."

He watched her intently, his gaze piercing. There was a dangerous edge to his smile, one that sent a shiver down Maria's spine. "If I wanted to hurt you," he continued, his voice almost a whisper, "I could do it right now. But I won't. I'm intrigued by you, lass."

Maria felt a mix of anger and fear. "Intrigued? Is that what you call it?" she shot back, refusing to let him intimidate her.

"Call it what you will," he replied, a sly smile returning to his lips. "But you'd be wise to come with me. I'm your best bet for survival out here. So tell me, where else would you be going?"

His words hung in the air, a dark invitation cloaked in charm. Maria hesitated, torn between the urge to flee and the unsettling truth that, perhaps, he was right.

Maria pushed herself up from the ground, her heart racing, and stepped back a bit, trying to put distance between them. "Where are you heading?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

Stephen's grin returned, but there was a hard edge to it. "I'm taking you to my ship."

Panic surged through her. His ship?! The implications of his words crashed over her like a cold wave. She could almost feel the weight of her predicament settle in her stomach.

Seeing her reaction, Stephen's amusement shifted to irritation. "Do you want to walk with me, or would you prefer to stay out here in the cold, waiting for the next pirate to find you?"

"Pirate?!" Maria thought, the word echoing in her mind. She stared at him, caught off guard by the reality of her situation.

He began to walk away, the rustle of leaves beneath his boots loud in the stillness of the forest. After a moment's hesitation, she quickly fell into step behind him, her instincts kicking in despite the fear gnawing at her. It was better to stay close than risk being left alone in this unfamiliar world.

As soon as Stephen reached his crew, his grin returned, broad and confident. "Grab her and take her with us," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Fear flickered across Maria's face as the men reached for her, their rough hands pulling her along. She stumbled but found herself moving faster, the laughter of the crew ringing in her ears.

After half an hour of walking, the trees began to thin, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore reached her. Finally, they emerged onto the beach, where a large, old ship loomed against the horizon, its sails catching the wind.

Maria's heart raced as dread settled in her stomach. Turning to Stephen, she summoned her courage and asked, "Where exactly are we?"

His amusement was evident as he looked down at her, a playful glint in his eyes. "You really have no idea, do you?" he replied, maintaining his sturdy pace, the sand shifting beneath their feet.

After a brief silence, he leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, his Irish accent thick and enticing. "We're somewhere on the east coast of America, lass."

Maria was speechless, the weight of his words crashing over her like a wave. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend the reality of her situation-far from home, caught in a world she barely understood, with a man whose intentions were as unpredictable as the ocean itself.