Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤9. Blurred lines

The soft thud of boots on the wooden gangway echoed through the night as Stephen and Maria returned to the ship. The lanterns lining the dock cast long shadows, their flickering light dancing across the dark waters. Stephen's jaw was tight, his hand resting lightly on Maria's back as they walked in unspoken rhythm, their movements in perfect sync, as if they truly were partners in every sense. But the silence between them told a different story-one of confusion, of unspoken emotions neither was ready to face.

Stephen's thoughts were a storm, his mind racing with every step. The evening at Moseley's had gone better than expected, but the strain of pretending gnawed at him. Was it really just pretending? The way Maria had looked at him, the softness in her eyes when she introduced herself as his fiancée, had stirred something deep inside him-something he hadn't expected, and certainly wasn't prepared for. He'd told himself it was all part of the act, that the closeness they displayed was necessary. But now, walking beside her, the warmth of her presence only inches away, he wasn't so sure. Had the lie blurred the lines, or was this something more?

Maria, for her part, felt the weight of his hand on her back, the gentle pressure steadying her, grounding her. Yet, at the same time, it sent a wave of uncertainty coursing through her. She had tried to feign connection tonight, to sell the story that they were truly engaged, but the longer she spent in his company, the harder it became to separate the act from reality. Every glance, every brush of his fingers against hers seemed to strike a deeper chord than she was willing to admit. Was this still about survival, or had her heart begun to betray her? The very thought terrified her.

The tension between them was palpable as they stepped into Stephen's cabin, the soft creak of the door punctuating the silence. Neither spoke as they moved to undress, both lost in their own spiraling thoughts. Stephen unbuttoned his coat with deliberate slowness, his gaze flicking to Maria as she undid the delicate fastenings of her dress. His throat tightened. The sight of her, framed by the soft glow of the oil lamps, did nothing to help the confusion raging inside him.

Maria, standing by the far side of the cabin, could feel Stephen's eyes on her. It wasn't the first time she'd felt his gaze, but tonight it was different. The air between them seemed charged, like the moments before a storm. She turned, her dress slipping off her shoulders, revealing the simple undergarment beneath. Her eyes met his across the room, and in that instant, the air grew heavier, with an unspoken longing neither of them knew how to name.

Stephen stood still, his shirt half-unbuttoned, his breath caught in his throat. The weight of her gaze, the way her lips parted slightly as she stared at him-it was too much. For a moment, he let himself feel it, the pull between them, the electricity that crackled in the space they shared. His chest tightened as his mind screamed at him to look away, to break the spell before it consumed them both.

"I think... I think we have a good chance," he said suddenly, his voice rough, breaking the silence like a whip crack. He turned his back to her, pretending to busy himself with the remainder of his clothing. His hands trembled slightly as he undid the last button, his heart still pounding from the intensity of the moment.

Maria nodded, her throat too tight for words. She didn't trust herself to speak-not when the room felt so charged with something she couldn't quite understand. She turned down the bed, slipping beneath the blankets, trying to steady her breath. The sensation of Stephen's presence across the room lingered, pulling her toward him despite the physical distance between them.

Stephen followed her lead, lying down with his back to her. The mattress creaked under his weight, the silence between them now thicker, almost suffocating. He stared at the wall, his muscles tense, his mind racing. He could feel her gaze on him, burning into his back, as if she could see right through his defenses.