Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤17. Storm 🕷

The sea had been kind so far. The gentle roll of the waves rocked the ship as if cradling it, and a light breeze filled the sails, pushing Stephen's vessel steadily toward London. Maria stood by the window of their cabin, brushing her long hair with slow, deliberate strokes. She watched the distant horizon with a sense of unease. The sky was a soft gray, not threatening, but something felt different. It was the calm before a storm-she could feel it in her bones, though she wasn't sure how.

Stephen sat at the edge of the bed, leaning back on his elbows, his easy, teasing grin in place as he watched her. He was in a rare mood-playful, perhaps because he was optimistic about their plans or simply because he enjoyed last night. His voice was smooth as honey when he spoke.

"Seems to me, you're a bit of a lucky charm," he said, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Ever since you've been aboard, we've had nothing but smooth sailing."

Maria didn't turn to face him, though she smiled faintly, her hand running through her hair with the brush. "Don't get too comfortable," she replied, her tone soft but wary. "It can't stay this easy forever."

Stephen stood and came up behind her, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. "Easy?" he repeated with a chuckle, his lips grazing her ear. "I wouldn't call having you around easy, love."

Her smile widened despite herself. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing at all," he whispered, his fingers tracing patterns on her stomach. "You just happen to make things... interesting. Always keeping me on my toes, making me wonder if you'll give me a smile or throw a punch."

Maria finally turned her head slightly, her eyes locking with his. "You deserve both," she murmured, though her words lacked any real bite. His proximity, his warmth, made it hard to focus on anything but him.

He chuckled again, the sound low and rich, and pulled her a little closer. "I can take that." His tone shifted, taking on a note of intrigue. "Though I wonder, what else you might be willing to give me..."

She turned fully in his arms now, one eyebrow raised. "Stephen..."

But before he could tease her further, a sharp knock came at the door. One of the crew members shouted through the wood, his voice strained with urgency. "Captain, there's something coming-weather looks bad!"

Stephen's easy smile faltered, and he exchanged a brief look with Maria before releasing her and moving swiftly toward the door. His expression hardened, the playful man gone, replaced by the focused, commanding captain.

"I'll be up in a moment," he called out. He turned back to Maria, his jaw tight, his eyes scanning her face as if assessing her reaction. "Stay here," he said quietly, his tone firm. "It might get rough."

Maria nodded, though her stomach churned with nervous anticipation. She watched him leave, her brush forgotten in her hand. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and she stared at it for a long moment before turning back to the window. The sky had darkened significantly in the past few minutes, and a distant rumble of thunder reached her ears. The wind had picked up, and she could see the waves rising, higher than before.

Her heart rate quickened. She had seen storms before, but not at sea. Not like this.

✺

Outside, Stephen barked orders to his crew, his voice sharp and clear even over the rising howl of the wind. The ship pitched and rolled beneath his feet as the sea churned around them, angry and wild. Dark clouds had swallowed the sky, turning day into a premature night. Lightning flickered in the distance, illuminating the rolling waves and casting brief, stark shadows across the deck.