The Virgin Next Door (Stud Ranch 3)

“Already got enough friends.” He swung at the bag again. The impact went up his arm and into his chest. He punched again, even harder. He hadn’t wrapped his hands with tape before putting his gloves on, and if he kept it up this way he’d find his knuckles bloody when he pulled them off.

Calla scoffed. “You don’t have any friends.”

“Exactly.” Punch. “And that’s how I like it.” Jab, jab, punch.

“Everyone needs friends. I’m just starting to realize that. I lived most of my life lonely and thought it would never change. I was wrong.” Her voice went soft. “You’re wrong too.”

“Look, little girl,” Mack spun on her and pointed a glove her direction. “You were an okay fuck, but shit, I never would have touched you if I knew you were gonna get all clingy and shit.”

Calla’s nostrils flared and her hands clenched. “Maybe Liam’s right. Maybe you’re nothing but a bully.”

He wished she’d stop bringing that fucker up. He hadn’t missed the way Liam was always finding some way to touch her whenever the two were in the same room. Like a dog staking his fucking claim.

After several more long moments of him not responding, Calla threw her hands up in the air. “I give up.”

She spun and walked away. Mack forced himself not to watch her go. If she looked back, he didn’t want her to see him looking after her like a lost fucking puppy.

No, better for everyone involved if he took out his frustrations on this goddamned punching bag rather than pulling a sweet girl like that into his fucked up sphere.

He’d been a selfish fuck to ever look for distraction in her soft arms in the first place. But that was over.

Bone was out of prison. His purpose was clear now. He’d train up to peak condition again. Make himself a machine. To do the only thing a savage like him was good for.

“She didn’t want to listen when I told her you were a lost cause.”

Mack gritted his teeth at hearing Liam’s voice behind him. What, suddenly the back barn was Penn fucking Station? Why couldn’t they just leave him the fuck alone?

“People want to deny it but breeding matters. Just take the mustangs. Maybe we get them trained to follow a few commands so we can sell them as a work horse at the auction. If we’re lucky. But they’ll never be anything more than what they were born as.” His lips twisted in disgust. “And nothing compared to a purebred.”

Mack sneered, turning to look at Liam. “I take it you’re the purebred in this little metaphor?”

Liam shrugged, a superior smile on his face. “Just calling it like I see it.”

“Yeah, well no one fucking asked you.” The mood Mack was in, Liam better shut his goddamned mouth and run away with his tail between his legs if he knew what was good for him. “You should be happy. You’re getting the girl. That should satisfy your ego.” Mack couldn’t help adding. “Even if it’s just ‘cause I’m letting you have her.”

The vein on Liam’s neck stood out as he took a step toward Mack. “She feels sorry for you. I’m sure I can convince her to give up on her little charity project without too much trouble. Your mongrel arse doesn’t deserve her and you know it. Not that it stopped you from getting your dick wet though, did it?”

Fucker pushed it too far. Mack had been itching for a rematch ever since Liam had gotten in those hits that night in the kitchen. ‘Sides, if he was gonna take on Bone, he could use all the practice he could get.

Mack shook his head and feigned like he was gonna walk away. Then he spun on his heel and swung at Liam.

Liam’s eyes went wide with surprise and he ducked out of the way of Mack’s glove at the very last second.

“Oh, ya want to batter me? Fine.” Liam raised his fists. “I’m happy to settle

once and for all who’s the better man. I was light-weight champion for three years running at Exeter. Woulda been four,” he smirked, “but I got thrown out for fighting.”

This time it was Mack’s turn to smirk. “Think you know how to fight because you could beat up some other pansy assed rich kids?” He shook his head and pulled off his boxing gloves, cracking his fingers as he went. “This is gonna be fun.”

He faked a jab and then reared back, letting loose a punch that would have smashed Liam’s face in. If the little fucker hadn’t danced away at the last second, that was.

“Boxing is all about footwork,” Liam said, doing more of that stupid bouncing around bullshit.

Mack was almost too busy laughing at him to dodge when Liam let out a left-cross. He barely managed to knock Liam’s hand away mid-air.

But Liam was ready and came back with his right, landing one right on Mack’s jaw. Motherfucking piss ant son of a—

Mack roared and ran full speed into Liam. He caught him off guard and took him to the dirt floor. Liam grunted in pain as Mack landed on top of him but Mack didn’t waste a second pinning him and then trying to get his arm around the fucker’s neck to choke him out. Right before he could, though, Liam grabbed Mack’s shoulder, jerked his arm across, and then rolled out from underneath him. Slippery little fuck—