Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤37. You left your door unlocked 🌶

The soft, fragrant breeze stirred the delicate curtains as Maria stood by the open window, bathed in the moonlight filtering through her room. The rose garden below filled the night with its sweet, earthy scent, mingling with the faint, wild calls of foxes in the distance. It was peaceful yet alive with quiet energy, a different world from the one she'd once known in her childhood.

Her thoughts drifted to those evenings with her family, the warmth of their laughter filling the room as they watched old movies. She could almost hear the familiar clink of snack bowls, remember the way her father chuckled at Shrek's jokes while she and her mother playfully tossed popcorn at each other. A small, wistful smile touched her lips as she stood there, lost between worlds.

Then came a faint creak, barely audible over the evening stillness, pulling her attention back to the present. Maria turned, feeling a shiver of anticipation, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit room. And there he was-Stephen, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, with that unmistakable grin on his lips.

He was silent for a moment, as if savoring the surprise in her eyes. The moonlight cut across his face, sharpening his features in a way that left him both mysterious and alluring. He tilted his head, his gaze roaming over her in a way that brought a flush to her cheeks, though he hadn't yet said a word.

Finally, in a low voice laced with mischief, he murmured, "Didn't mean to interrupt your thoughts, but I couldn't let the night end without seeing ye."

The way he looked at her, as if the rest of the world had fallen away, made her heart pound faster. He slowly approached her. Once they stood facing eachother he gently raised her hand, tracing the delicate lines of the intertwined hearts on her ring, as he held her gaze with a smoldering intensity.

Maria's lips curved into a coy smile, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief as she lowered her gaze demurely. Stephen's strong hand cupped her cheek, guiding her attention back to him.

Maria's heart raced as Stephen's intense gaze bore into hers. She was unable to resist the magnetic pull between them and slowly lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck as she pressed her body flush against his. The warmth of his skin seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt, igniting a fire within her core.

Stephen instinctively responded, his strong arms encircling her waist and drawing her even closer. Maria buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply, savoring the musky scent that was uniquely his. Her lips brushed against his pulse point, leaving a trail of feather-light kisses in their wake.

A low growl escaped Stephen's throat as he tightened his embrace. Then he swiftly let her go before tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze. "You're a dangerous woman, Maria," he whispered hoarsely, "if you wanted to destroy me, you could so easily..."

His words were cut short as Maria surged forward, capturing his lips in a fierce, hungry kiss. She poured all her pent-up longing into the embrace, her tongue delving in, to dance with his tongue. Stephen groaned into her mouth, gripping her hips as he ground his hardness against her.

Breaking the kiss, Stephen flashed her a mischievous grin, his eyes lustfully half shut "Ye called me a secretive bastard last time, and now that I've arranged a fine palace for us, you're kissing me on the lips."

With a growl, he swept Maria off her feet, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he carried her toward the opulent four-poster bed. The silk sheets rustled invitingly beneath them as he laid her down, his body covering hers.

Their lips crashed together in a frenzy of passion, tongues tangling as they devoured each other. Hands roamed freely, exploring, claiming, possessing. Stephen's fingers found the hem of Maria's nightgown, slowly pushing the fabric up her thighs as he broke the kiss to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses along her jawline and down the column of her neck.