Courage runs deep, p.1
Courage Runs Deep, page 1
Courage Runs Deep
Aliyah Burke
Contents
Blurb for Courage Runs Deep
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
About the Author
Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:
Courage Runs Deep
Copyright © 2020 Aliyah Burke 1st Edition
Edited by Leanore Elliot
Cover Art Copyright © Writing Avalanche
* * *
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web-without permission in writing from the publisher or author. The unauthorized replication or allocation of any copyrighted work is illegal. File sharing is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Border Patrol, Division of Cyber Crimes, in partnership with Interpol. Copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 per reported instance, and seizure of computers.
This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.
Published by: Sensual Romance Publishing
Created with Vellum
Blurb for Courage Runs Deep
Sometimes it takes more strength to let someone beyond the wall than keeping everyone out…
Submarine Navigator Neha Kirk has the honor of being first. An honor which comes with more than it’s share of tribulations and a magnifying glass, she’s no longer sure she wants. Her life is no longer her own. A desire which ratchets up when she meets one man she would like to get to know better.
Commander Davin Bly is content with his life as Range Master. At least until Lieutenant Kirk strolls into it. He wants to know the woman more than anything but she has walls that make the submarine’s hull thick as an egg. Not everyone is pleased with this woman breaking all kinds of barriers and he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
They will both need to dig deep for the courage to face what’s out there.
To the men and women who sacrifice so much to serve this country, be it now, had it been in the past, or those yet to serve, and get so little in return, Thank You! We may never meet but you will always have my eternal gratitude for the sacrifices you and your family are currently making and have made.
Chapter 1
Neha Kirk returned the salute before she walked off the boat on which she served. The USS Puerto Rico SSBN-906. A boomer. She was one of only a handful of women who served on any sub and she was the navigational officer and sole source of ovaries on this particular submarine.
It wasn’t easy, she wasn’t going to lie about that but when the opportunity had been presented to her, she jumped at the chance. She may not have a lot going for her but she sure as fuck had courage. And to be the one of the first to serve on a boomer, was something she wanted more than anything.
She walked briskly up the pier, needing to get away from everything for a while. They’d just come back from a deployment and she’d stayed onboard to let those with families reunite. There wasn’t anyone waiting for her, so no need to rush. She didn’t mind pulling a watch to make sure that happened.
Besides, it was a two-fold reason. Not being one of the first off the boat, also kept her out of the media’s eye. The other women from what she’d seen enjoyed the limelight, however, personally, she preferred to keep it off her. Sailors saluted her as she moved by them but even though it was returned, she didn’t slow to talk, just continued on.
She had her own priorities and right now, that included a shower that wasn’t timed and a bed that gave her a bit more room to roll around in.
Because we have someone to roll around in it with? Oh no, that’s right we don’t. We’re fucking single because our last man didn’t want anything to do with a woman on a submarine. He thought I was going to be the crew’s whore.
Not just her ex had been of that belief, but her siblings as well. She didn’t even bother asking her father what he’d thought. He’d not been proud of her in her entire life, why should he start now?
Getting back to her place took a bit but if anything, she’d learned how to be patient. Had to be if you spent most of your life in a black tube beneath the ocean’s surface. Even so, when she unlocked the door, she closed it behind her with a click and sighed in relief.
Home.
She had a cleaning lady she paid once a month to come make sure everything was in working order. The woman was a saint and did an incredible job. And she would call her letting her know she was home. Just…not right now.
Neha stripped as she walked to the bathroom and turned the water on as hot as she could handle it. Stepping beneath the streams, she closed her eyes as it rained down on her.
Oh fuck yes.
She allowed it to work its magic for a while then got cleaned up. Wrapped in a large towel, she padded to her bedroom and smiled at the sight of her bed. Her one big purchase, a California king. She wanted to be able to spread out and roll around when she was home. Not that she did, but, the capability was there if she started.
Or if I get some man over here to knock the dust out and rid me of the cobwebs that have begun to spawn their own colony they’ve been in there for so long.
There were people she was interested in, but she was resolute in not going there. She had her life under a microscope because of being one of not only the first women on a boomer, but a woman of color. Any man, if he was brave enough to hook up with her, probably wouldn’t want their sexual life brought to the forefront of everything.
And I do mean everything.
Rooting around for an oversized t-shirt, she drew it on over her head and draped the towel over the chair. After making sure she was properly lotioned, she yanked the towel and padded back to the bathroom and hung it up.
This time when she returned to the bedroom, she crawled in and closed her eyes. It may be early and many would be out, but she didn’t care. She was heading off to a land of sleep where sirens wouldn’t wake her or being tossed off her rack.
She’d forgotten about the fucking doorbell and when it pealed and woke her, she was in a mood. Pushing a hand through her hair, she climbed from bed and yanked it open. She scowled at the person standing there.
“Hey sis.”
“Go away, Hank.”
“Are you kidding me? You just got off deployment. Let’s go out and celebrate.”
She didn’t move back, didn’t allow him in her space. “The fact you know I’m back already means you’ve been watching for me to return. And you only want to go out, so I pay for you. It’s not happening. I’m staying in.” She shook her head. “In fact, I’m staying in bed for at least a day.”
“Neha,” he pouted.
“You weren’t that cute as a child and it’s less than adorable now coming from what is supposed to be a grown ass man. Leave Hank before I have them remove you.”
She closed the door on his cussing.
Some brother. All he ever wanted was a place to stay and access to her money. With another yawn, she scurried back to her bed, cursed at him for allowing her warm cocoon to cool but tugged the blankets up over her head and succumbed to the sleep she desperately needed.
The following day she stayed in bed, sleeping, reading, and just being away from the submarine. At some point, she knew she had to call her parents but wasn’t ready for that drama yet either because they would want her to help Hank.
Her friends had checked in on her and she would meet with them later. They knew she liked to rest when she got back. So long as they knew she was okay, they would let her be. Most of the time.
Making her way back to the base, she went to the gun range. She actually found the act of shooting relaxing. She wasn’t an expert marksman by any means, but she could shoot. Pretty much anything.
Taking the spot furthest down on the range, she walked toward it, not paying attention to the group huddled around and listening to instruction. That wasn’t her business.
“Take your positions.”
Whoa now!
She almost stumbled over her feet at the power in that voice. Deep. Commanding. Made for the bedroom.
Who knew the Range Master here sounded so yummy. Refusing to look over her shoulder at him, she kept on her way, determined to create her own version and use it tonight. Tall dark and handsome. The last one here she’d met was a wiry gunny. Just not her type.
With her luck, neither was this one.
Exactly why I am not looking and allowing reality to ruin my imagination. She set up, sighted down her target and fired off her clip.
When the weapons down cry came, she complied instantly and pulled her protection out of her ears. She watched him, striding into view pausing by each target and giving
He glanced at her and made his way down to her target. His mirrored shades and attire had her sweating in her shoes. There was something about him.
Had to be the voice. Right?
She didn’t know him, hadn’t fucked him but damn if her body wasn’t reacting as if they were on an intimate level of knowledge with one another. He stood by her target for a moment, his gaze flashing between her and it. At least she assumed so, given his shades she couldn’t be positive.
Fuck, did I do something wrong? Unease slithered up her spine when he spoke into a radio he’d pulled from his waist before executing a spin and marching up toward her. The closer he came, the more difficult it was for her to breathe.
She didn’t move, didn’t reach for her cleared weapon, just stood there. Waiting. For this other proverbial shoe to drop.
“Name.”
“Lieutenant Neha Kirk, sir.”
This she could handle. Had it through OCS and training for the sub. Intimidation tactics and seeing if could hold her own. Her rank was on the collar of her coat, but her nameplate was covered up.
“You fired your entire clip?”
“Yes sir.”
“Who taught you to shoot?”
She almost looked at him. Almost. It wasn’t fair, that voice which was going to bring to orgasm tonight, questioning her about who taught her to shoot.
“My father sir.” The one decent thing that asshole had done for her.
He grunted. Even that was sexy sounding.
“Nice job. Close grouping. You could teach that class a thing or two.”
She hadn’t been expecting that at all and turned to look at him, hoping her mouth wasn’t gaping like a fish searching for air.
Fuck.
The man was chiseled everywhere. Square jaw, no facial hair. Arms were impressive in his uniform and damn if that distinction didn’t continue down his legs. She just took a quick peek. Okay, a few quick ones.
“Thank you, sir.” She wanted to see his eyes.
It wasn’t to be. He gave her a brief nod and strode off, allowing her to follow him with her gaze and drink her fill of his ass in that camouflage.
Stop it, she yelled at herself. She wasn’t touching anything here on base. Even if that man had been interested. He was still to close to where she worked. After every sacrifice she’d gone through to get here, she wasn’t jeopardizing that for anyone. Not even a hot ass man who looked like he knew his way around a bedroom and a woman.
At least that’s what her overactive mind was thinking.
She did two more targets and left. As she was walking back to her car, she picked up her phone to call her parents. Somedays she wished she could be the child they were proud of instead of them telling her she needed to help her brother.
αβ
The beer slid without effort down his throat. He shifted his weight on the chair he occupied on his porch as his brother manned the grill at their outdoor kitchen.
“You’re quiet this evening, Davin. What’s going on?”
Turning his head to look at Tavin, his twin, he shook his head. “Just thinking about a woman.”
Tavin waggled his eyebrows. “Ohh, do tell. I’m fucking in a goddamn dry spell right. Give me something to live for.”
Davin rolled his eyes. “You’re SWAT, you can’t expect me to believe that you’re having an issue getting a woman.” He sat forward, allowing the beer bottle to dangle from his fingertips. “Unless this is about that sexy dispatcher that is giving you a run for your money.”
Laughing at the obscene gesture Tavin gave, he pushed to his feet and strolled to where he stood by the large grill. They shared a house, with him being gone at times and Tavin working all hours, this just seemed to be the best course for them both.
Older by five minutes, Tavin took a lot of pride in rubbing it in his face Davin was now and would always be the baby in the family.
“This isn’t about me,” his sibling said, cutting his gaze to the meat sizzling then back to Davin. “Tell me about this woman. Do I get to call her my sister in law?”
“Why don’t I just kill you and bury you in the backyard?”
“Because I’m a cop and you would have a big hole here.”
He waved him off and put the bottle on the mottled brown tile top. “Swimming pool, my man. This would solve two of my problems. Not only would the pain in my ass be eliminated but I would have an inground swimming pool.”
“Asshole.”
Davin nodded without a single shred of remorse. “Pretty much.”
“The woman?” His twin prompted as he reached for his own drink.
“She was at the range today.” He crossed his arms and propped his hip against the counter. “Incredible skill. Small groupings and at a good fucking distance.”
Like him, Tavin was always impressed by someone who could shoot. They hated people who pretended they could and didn’t have the ability to sight anything and were more of a danger than helpful.
“Who was she? Or rather, who is she?”
“Lieutenant Kirk.” He thought about her uniform. “She was wearing the dolphins.”
“Shit,” he said with a low whistle. “I know that name. Lots of talk surrounding her when she first got to King’s Bay. The only female on a Boomer. The only Black woman on a sub period.”
“I know.”
He’d never met her personally, before today, but had heard the scuttlebutt about her. Lots of naysayers but some, and that included the men she served with, had some decent things to say about the navigator for the USS Puerto Rico.
He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck, wishing for a moment it was autumn so this god forsaken Georgia heat would at least fucking consider taking a few days off.
“And is she about to be the star in your latest night fantasies?”
“What? Fuck you, Tavin.”
His brother smirked and waggled his eyebrows. “Look, we both know it’s been a while for you. From what I hear she’s fucking hot.”
“What the fuck possesses me to tell you things? I swear I’m the older of us and you’re nothing more than a high school boy with a never-ending woody.”
Tavin laughed. “Well, there aren’t any complaints from my women, that’s for sure. And you tell me because you know I’d figure it out anyway. So what’s the deal with her?”
“Nothing,” he griped. “Fuck. There’s no deal. At all. I was just thinking back to her groupings when you asked me what I was thinking about. I’m not looking to find Mrs. Bly and if I was it wouldn’t be on base. I don’t dip my wick there.”
After flipping the meat and adjusting the heat, Tavin faced him and gave him his full attention. Davin waited, unsure what was coming because his twin was unusually serious. Typically, the only time Tavin was serious he had to be dealing with something work related.
Not here with beer in hand at the grill.
“Not everyone is like Adele, Dav. You have to know this and move on.”
He held up a hand not in the mood for this lecture again. “Stop.”
“No. It’s been years since she fucking made a fool of you and showed you her true fucking colors. Hell, I don’t even know if you’ve been laid in that time. I see no women near you, you’re wrapped up with work all the time and continually blow off anything remotely fun to do with me and any number of fun girls I try to set you up with.”
“Tavin—”
“Fucking zip it. I’m talking. Suddenly out of the blue you come home and have a spark that I’ve not seen since that Army bitch and you mention another woman. Not sexually although from the deep purr that I heard when you said her name, I’m sure you felt something. Regardless, she kicked something in you, and I want to see more of that. So, find a motherfucking jock strap and go talk to her. Even if it’s just spending time on the range with her. Do something.”
Their blue eyes snapped and sizzled as they locked.
