Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤3 ABC 🕷

The ship rocked gently beneath them, the creaking of the wood and the sound of the waves crashing against the hull filling the quiet cabin. Maria woke to the faint scent of sea air mixed with the lingering traces of Stephen's cologne-spice and amber. For a moment, she forgot where she was, her body warm from the shared heat of the bed. Then, reality returned, and she froze, realizing Stephen was still beside her, his presence filling the space.

Stephen stirred slightly, his arm draped lazily across his chest, his other hand resting near his dagger on the bedside table. His breathing was steady, but Maria didn't dare move, afraid to wake him. She wasn't sure what to expect from him now. His behavior had been unpredictable-one moment, he was teasing her, the next, cold and unreadable. She couldn't trust his mood or his intentions.

After a few more minutes, Stephen's eyes fluttered open. He didn't move at first, his sharp blue eyes staring at the ceiling as if lost in thought. Then, without looking at her, he spoke.

"Yer still here," he muttered, his voice thick with sleep but tinged with amusement. "Didn't expect ye to run?"

Maria stiffened, unsure how to respond. "Where would I go?" she asked quietly, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm on your ship, surrounded by your men."

Stephen finally turned his head to look at her, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "A smart lass after all." He stretched, his muscles shifting under his skin, and sat up, his back to her now. "Ye've got a point. But I've seen many women try." He stood, not bothering to cover himself as he walked to the window and looked out at the horizon.

Maria sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest. "Why are you keeping me here?" she asked, her voice louder this time. She was tired of being in the dark, tired of playing along with his cryptic games. "What do you want from me?"

Stephen's shoulders tensed for a brief moment before he turned back to face her, his eyes cold and calculating. "What do I want from ye?" he repeated, as if amused by the question. He sauntered back to the bed, sitting on the edge near her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him. "Yer a curious one, aren't ye?" He leaned in, his eyes never leaving hers. "I told ye already, didn't I? Ye're useful."

Maria held her ground, her gaze steady. "Useful how? You don't even know who I am."

Stephen chuckled darkly, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a surprisingly gentle touch. "Oh, I know enough." His hand lingered near her cheek before he withdrew it. "Ye've got fire in ye, lass. That much is clear. And yer story-whether it's truth or lies-I'll unravel it in time."

"Unravel what?" Maria snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I told you I don't know what happened. I don't belong here."

Stephen's grin widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, I believe ye on that. Ye don't belong anywhere near here, do ye? That much is clear by the way ye carry yerself."

Maria stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. He was too perceptive, too sharp, and she was afraid of where this conversation was heading.

"Let me go," she said, her voice softer now, almost pleading. "I don't know what you're looking for, but I can't give it to you."

Stephen leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest, studying her as if weighing her words carefully. "Let ye go?" He shook his head slowly, as if the idea itself was absurd. "Nay, lass. I think I'll keep ye around a bit longer. Ye might surprise me yet."

Maria swallowed hard, her mind racing. She needed to figure out a way to gain some control over the situation. "And what do I get in return for staying?" she asked, trying to sound bolder than she felt.