A/N: before you say anything – I KNOW that I am seriously behind with updating Unwanted Rings. But this randomly happened the other day while I was at home from work because I was unwell, and I thought I'd post it as it would give me a chance to let you guys know that I am in the middle of the next UR chapter, and it is taking shape! So won't be too long

Not much to say about this other than that it is pretty naughty.

…

"Oh Matthew, stop being such a goody-two-shoes." Mary complained in a loud whisper.

"I'm not being a goody-two-shoes!" Matthew whispered back, perturbed. "You need to learn the value of doing your own work!"

Mary sat back in her chair with a huff and glared at the young man sitting next to her.

"I thought I could rely on you." She whispered sourly, hoping the guilt angle might be more successful than the demanding one.

"I'm doing you a favour." Was Matthew's distinctly guilt-free response. "There won't be anyone around to rely on in the real world." He said, his eyes returning to the multitude of books neatly spread out on the library desk in front of him.

Mary's glare intensified. He could be so bloody self-righteous. She'd had a perfectly good reason for missing lectures last week - one of her friends from home had hosted a gathering in Monaco for his 20th birthday, with week-long lavish celebrations in a villa. It would have been downright rude for Mary not to attend.

Nevertheless, she had briefly debated whether it was too risky to neglect her studies for that week - a judge from the ECJ was giving a series of guest lectures on significant EU law cases which were almost guaranteed to come up in the exam that summer - but she knew that Matthew would lend her his notes and guide her through the work. He always did and, in any case, his notes were far more detailed and accurate than her notes ever were or ever would be, so it would have been a waste of time to attend.

Sensing that her steely gaze was still fixed on him, Matthew glanced sideways at her and made a peace-offering. "I recorded the lectures so if you want you can borrow my dictaphone." The truth was that he didn't like Mary being disappointed in him. But she needed to sort out her priorities if she was going to aim for a serious career after they graduated in eighteen months' time.

"How would that help?" Mary retorted, her whispers less quiet than they were before. "It'll take me the same amount of time to listen to the recordings and make my notes as if I'd just attended the lectures in the first place! Honestly, you can be so dim."

"Will you stop giving me abuse, woman?" Matthew replied, playfully flicking a pen lid at her.

"Don't call me-"

"Will you two shut up?!" Anna, who had been diligently trying to ignore the argument on the other side of the table and focus on her books, finally snapped. "People are trying to study here!"

"Yeah - piss off!" A random boy whom none of them knew piped up from a couple of tables away.

Matthew glanced at the offended students apologetically while Mary's face contorted in displeasure at being put in her place by a boy who was unashamedly wearing crocs in public.

Mary was not content to let the discussion with Matthew end. She needed help! They had a mock exam approaching in ten days and she had about twenty days' worth of work to catch up on (she may have missed a few lectures and tutorials earlier on in term in order to go car shopping, but that was completely justifiable too…). Being behind in her studies normally wouldn't phase her, but her father had put her on a kind of academic probation; Mary had been desperate to break away from the stuffy, country environment she'd grown up in and insisted on attending a university as far away from her family and any of her parents' friends as possible, in search of anonymity and freedom, choosing the sprawling metropolis of London to escape to. Her parents had reluctantly conceded, but Robert had imposed the conditions that she needed to study law and that she must maintain a 1st throughout her degree, otherwise she would be promptly withdrawn from Kings' College London and matriculated straight into Oxford, as was traditional in the Crawley family. Not many people believed Mary or understood the rationale behind her father's terms when she told them this, but her father had friends in high, influential places and he'd most certainly be able to follow up on this threat if he wanted to, in order to uphold the prestige of the family. A 3rd from oxford was more valuable than a 2:1 from anywhere else, he always said.

After being very conscientious in her first year, the fear had subsided and Mary had already slipped up a couple of times in her second year. Robert had decided to let those instances pass with just a warning, but Mary did not want to push her luck. She sensed that a bad result in the impending mock may be the last straw. And with the way things were going, the best she could hope for was a low 2:2.

Rising from her chair, she tugged on Matthew's collar as an unsubtle indication that she wanted him to follow her. With a sigh, Matthew decided not to anger Mary any further. He pushed his chair back quietly and traced her steps to an empty area of the large library.

"You're making me say a word that I thoroughly dislike using, and I hate you for it, but please help me." Mary pleaded.

"I'm honestly not refusing you in order to make you miserable." Matthew assured her. "You'll feel so much more proud of yourself if you put the work in. You'll appreciate the subject so much more, too!"

"You misunderstand the situation, Matthew. I do not care about law in the slightest. I don't want to develop an appreciation for it." Mary deadpanned. "I just want to get good grades so I can stay here and not get shipped off to toff-land."

"You do realise that you are a toff yourself?" Matthew smirked.

"Matthew..." Mary warned.

"Alright, fine." Matthew relented. "I'll help."

Mary's eyes lit up. Success!

"Don't think it'll come easily, though." Matthew burst her bubble before she became too settled in it. "I'll help you, but on one condition."

Mary rolled her eyes dramatically. "Why does everyone insist on giving me conditions?"

"Because you're a stubborn and unreasonable young woman." Matthew replied so seriously that it paradoxically made Mary smile.

"I'm not going to spoon-feed you; you need to attend all lectures for the rest of term and join me in the library every evening for at least four hours. It'll take that much for you to work your way back up to a 1st." Matthew estimated, being in a good position to judge given that he was on a strong 1st himself.

"Matthew, we both know that it'll be easier for the both of us if you just give me your notes and essays rather than have you trying to tutor me." Mary engaged one of her charming smiles, attempting to make this as easy for herself as possible.

Matthew narrowed his eyes at her. "I think you're forgetting that I know Edith and could quite easily let her know of how remiss you've been with your studies this year."

"You wouldn't." Mary's eyes grew wide with alarm. If Edith found out, she would definitely tell their father - she and Mary were more at odds now than ever, especially as Edith had had a crush on Matthew since school and was now jealous of Mary's relationship with him - and he would not be pleased.

"I might." Matthew bluffed. He wouldn't, though - he wasn't that cruel. "But I will withdraw my note-lending and question-answering services if you don't keep to the bargain."

Mary crossed her arms. She hated that he could make her submit to his terms. He was the only man - besides her father - who was able to do it, even while they'd been at school together. She had been one of a handful of girls to join a hitherto boys-only private school during sixth form and the girls had been akin to small fish being dropped into a tank of hungry sharks. Mary's beauty and innate confidence had made her even more sought-after among the hundred boys in her year group. All the boys had been at her heel ready to obey her every order and cater to her every whim; Matthew, on the other hand, had been the only one to question her, to challenge her. Thankfully Matthew and Mary had shared only one class together during sixth form, so she had not had to encounter him more than once or twice a week. She was rather aggrieved in her final year of school, therefore, to discover that 'scholarship boy', as she'd snobbishly dubbed him, would be attending the same university as her, doing the same course, and living just one floor below her throughout first year.

"Four hours every evening?" She clarified that she had correctly understood the onerous condition. Matthew nodded. "Look, Matthew, I know you find this difficult to comprehend, but I have been blessed with a wonderful gift called a social life." She spoke as if addressing a thoroughly stupid child. "It requires me to be available in the evenings."

"Mary, it'll be difficult enough for you to get up to standard with four hours of work a night. I can't perform miracles!"

"Well, I simply don't have the time to spare." Mary said resolutely.

"Alright." Matthew shrugged nonchalantly. "Enjoy Oxford!" He called behind him as he turned to leave.

Mary's heart stilled as she saw him pull out his phone and scroll through it, paranoia invading her mind - was he searching for Edith's number?

"Wait!" She called out, hurrying up to him and dragging him back by the arm.

"Yes?" Matthew asked, his expression irritatingly triumphant.

"I'll attend all my lectures and study in the library for two hours a night." She bargained.

"Three." He countered.

The two stubborn nineteen year olds stared at each other, waiting for the other to crack. Mary was determined to retain the upper-hand in this. She never liked the idea of having to concede to others, and she had Matthew had always had a relatively tempestuous, combative relationship.

An idea formed in Mary's head. It was wickedly naughty, but she had faith in its ability to knock Matthew off his perch.

"Two hours." She repeated. "And..." She paused to build the anticipation. "I'll let you spend the night with me."

"What?" Matthew blurted out loudly, earning tuts from the disgruntled students who were trying to study on the other side of the bookshelves.

"If you help me, and I get a 1st in my mock, I'll let you spend the night with me." Mary repeated. It was daring, incredibly so, but Mary knew it would work. As much as Matthew enjoyed antagonising her, she knew he was physically attracted to her. She had noticed him eyeing her up when he thought she couldn't see; gazing at her as she walked away, staring at her curves in her form-fitting dresses, not able to avert his stare quickly enough after she caught him. And the truth was, she had become attracted to him over their time at university so far. He had grown into a gorgeous man and, unless she was mistaken, there was a sexual tension steadily building between them amongst all the arguing. Plus, if she was going to have to study intensely for the next ten days, she may as well inject a bit of fun into it.

"M-mary..." Matthew stammered. Was it hot in here? "B-but..." He cleared his throat, annoyed with himself for letting her affect him so much. For all he knew, this was one of her little pranks, designed purely to rile him up. He took a deep breath. "What are you talking about?" He eventually exclaimed in a loud whisper. She couldn't be serious!

Mary merely raised an eyebrow at him, as if perplexed by his reaction. "Honestly, Matthew, I know you like to play the innocent little boy but you must know what I mean." When Matthew simply looked back at her with his mouth agape, clearly too scared to venture a guess in case he'd wildly misunderstood her, Mary continued. "I mean you and me, in a bed, doing anything we want with each other." She whispered sensually.

Matthew gulped hard, glad that he had chosen to wear his baggy trousers to study in. "W-why would you offer that?" He asked, wanting to be clear of her motives. She hadn't given him any impression that she was particularly interested in him in any way and she knew that he certainly wasn't the sort of young man to have a one-night-stand. He'd only ever properly been with one girl before and fooled around with another but those had both been during relationships.

"Because I know you'll want to." Mary said confidently. Matthew inwardly cursed her for being so justifiably self-assured.

"And I suppose you want to, too? Otherwise you wouldn't suggest it." He countered, trying to match her smugness. The thought did boost his ego; Mary wasn't exactly a shrinking violet, but nor was she the type of girl who would play around with just anyone. Considering the number of willing bed partners she had, she was remarkably restrained.

"Maybe." Mary replied enigmatically, her eyes travelling slowly and deliberately up and down his body, making Matthew feel even warmer. "I don't want to force you, though." She said with faux concern. So I'll leave it up to you to decide. But just think, Matthew - it's only ten days until the exam, then a few more days until we get our results...in exactly two weeks' time, we could be in your bed. Or mine."

Matthew gulped again. Her bed. She was conjuring images in his mind that made it difficult for him to stand up straight. "How do I know you'll keep to your word?" He challenged, managing to think rationally and not get carried away with his rapidly developing fantasies.

"I suppose you won't know until I actually get the grade that I need." Mary replied honestly, suspecting that even the element of uncertainty wouldn't be enough to dissuade him from accepting. "But if you really doubt my word, I can give you a little taster." Mary offered alluringly.

This was all far too steamy for a regular evening in the library, Matthew thought. Part of him was dying to know what Mary had in mind as a 'taster', but he was also very aware of where they were and the need for him to maintain some of his dignity and not succumb to her so completely.

"That won't be necessary." He said calmly, taking delight in the slight look of defeat that he could see in her eyes at his answer. "I trust you."

"Good." Mary quickly recovered from the unexpected feeling of disappointment and replied with a pleased smile. "So we have a deal?"

"We do." Matthew breathed out. "Shall we start tomorrow? I need to make a study plan for you." It was getting late and Matthew didn't think he could handle Mary's presence any longer.

"Perfect." Mary smiled. "Sweet dreams, Matthew." She whispered wryly, intentionally brushing past him as she walked away.

Matthew let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding in. He needed a cold shower.

…

Over the next week, the library partners made no explicit mention of their deal, deciding instead to focus on the sheer volume of work that needed to be battled through. Matthew, being the gentleman that he was, did not want to bring up or even allude to the notion of them romping together in between her sheets. That did not mean, however, that his innermost thoughts were anywhere near gentlemanly. It also did not stop the furtive glances that he cast her way while she was poring over her notes, reaching up to take a book off the top shelf or absent-mindedly running her feminine fingers through the lustrous hair which settled upon her bosom. Happily, he believed he had caught Mary casting similar glances his way as they studied.

One particular evening, three days before the mock, Matthew and Mary were huddled together in their quiet corner of the library tackling a particularly tricky subject. Matthew had analysed previous years' past papers and calculated that the topic was due to come up this year. Their mandatory two hours had already expired but Mary wanted to do a practice essay to ensure that she had thoroughly understood the relevant case-law. It had made Matthew smile - she maintained that she didn't care about law or pursuing it as a career, but he could see her interest growing as the days passed by.

Matthew took the completed essay from her and read over it as she sat next to him and watched with anticipation. He was no expert in essay-marking but she seemed to want his reassurance that she was on the right track.

"It's really good, Mary." He turned to tell her once he'd finished reviewing.

"Really?" Mary smiled hopefully.

"Yeah, you explain Baroness Hale's argument very well." He smiled back.

"Well, it was you who explained it to me about two hours ago, so I think you should take the credit for that." She pointed out. "But at this rate it looks like I might get my 1st. You might want to start planning how you want to spend our night together." She winked.

Matthew let out a breathy, nervous laugh. Truthfully, he hadn't stopped planning it ever since Mary had first proposed it, irrespective of how foolishly hopeful that made him. The irrational and creative part of his brain had been working in overdrive lately. The rational part of his brain, however, was still not convinced that she actually meant what she promised. It was more than likely that she was just toying with him in order to get what she needed from him. Not knowing how to respond, Matthew spent a few moments shuffling the papers around on his desk and pretending to look for his pen (even though it was quite obviously within full view).

"I have another question, Matthew." Mary said innocently.

"Oh?" Matthew asked, glad that she seemed to be returning to the subject of their textbooks so that he could stop blushing profusely.

"Yes." She said, readjusting herself in her seat as if about to voice a very serious query."Have you ever thought about me while you're...you know...beating your meat?" She asked, her lips quirking upwards mischievously. It was a terribly uncouth question and her grandmother would surely pass out if she ever knew that she'd asked it but, for some reason, she didn't care. Being so far away from home – and, for some reason, being in Matthew's presence – made her much less inhibited than she'd been trained to be.

"Mary!" Matthew admonished, glancing around in panic. Thankfully the whole library, or at least their section of it, had emptied out.

"Oh don't be such a baby." Mary replied. "You need to loosen up a bit! We're young enough to have fun and old enough to admit that we do these things. This time in our lives won't last long, Matthew. Make the most of it."

Matthew pondered her words as he tried to calm his rapid heart-rate. She had a point. If he was ever going to throw caution to the wind and behave a bit recklessly and speak about rude things, this was the time to do it. "Erm..." He began his answer to her question, his eyes avoiding hers. "Yes, I have." He stopped abruptly, deciding not to venture any more information unless asked. He didn't want to embarrass himself further in what was already a fairly uncomfortable conversation for him.

"Care to elaborate?" Mary pried, partly because she enjoyed watching him blush, and partly because she was actually curious. He was always so prim and straight-laced; the idea of him having dirty thoughts about her was unexpectedly thrilling. "What do you think about?"

Matthew physically squirmed in his seat. "Mary, I'm not sure I want to divulge all the details..."

"Well when was the last time you did it?" Mary prompted.

Silence.

"For God's sake, Matthew, just speak! I'm not going to judge you or get angry about it."

"This morning." Matthew said quickly.

"Oh really?" Mary smiled smugly. "And what were you imagining then?"

Matthew glanced at her sideways, unable to stop himself smirking at her devilish little face. "Last night, you were wearing that black tank top and at one point you bent down to pick your pen up from the floor. The front of your top slipped down and I could see your cleavage...I suppose I was thinking about taking your breasts in my hands and perhaps my...mouth." Matthew paused. Having these thoughts in the privacy of his own bathroom was one thing, but now he was reliving them in the university library with the object of his desire seated right next to him.

Mary could feel herself heating up. The words alone were enough to affect her but when they were spoken in that deliciously rich, low voice of his...

"What about you?" Matthew turned the tables on her. "Have you been thinking about me in that way?" He asked boldly, but his heart was thudding against his chest. This was the bravest he'd ever been in his whole life.

Mary met his eyes, and he saw that they were filled with desire. "Yes." She said quietly.

Matthew swallowed. "While you...?" He trailed off.

Mary held his gaze. "Yes." She breathed out.

Matthew swallowed even harder. "And what do you think about?" He asked huskily.

"Your fingers." Mary replied without hesitation. Her eyes twinkled as she watched Matthew imagine what she could have been imagining.

Matthew shifted in his seat and coughed. He had no idea how she wanted him to react to this. He had no idea what the hell was happening here. This whole dialogue felt like some kind of dream involving his alter-ego.

"Are you going to go home and think about me now?" Mary asked cheekily.

Matthew smirked. He knew that part of this line of questioning was a test - she wanted to see how far she could push him. "I probably am, yes." He replied, now more comfortable with the eroticism of the conversation.

"It'll take you about fifteen minutes to walk back home, though, won't it?" Mary asked softly.

"Er...yes, why?" Matthew asked with a small frown at the sudden change in topic, before noticing Mary's slender hands inching their way over to his lap. He sucked in a breath as one hand ran along his upper thigh, up towards his crotch.

"Well that's simply too long a wait." Mary said matter-of-factly. She leaned forward until her cheek brushed against his. "Let me help you." She whispered in his ear and took his ear lobe in her mouth. Matthew barely had time to recover from that sensation before her hand rubbed along his length through his trousers. He let out a strangled groan.

"Shh, Matthew, we're in a library." Mary smirked as she undid his trousers.

"Mary..." Matthew gasped out, realising what she was planning on doing.

"It's alright, you can be quiet." Mary assured him, leaning forward to kiss him deeply, covering his mouth with hers. Matthew responded earnestly to the kiss and the feel of her beautifully soft mouth, but was soon distracted by the feel of her bare, dextrous hands on his now very bare, thick arousal.

For the next several minutes, Matthew was trapped in a wonderful kind of paradox. He wanted to scream, he wanted to shout, he wanted to thrash around - yet he was almost paralysed in his chair, no sound croaked through his open mouth as he gasped for breath. He threw his head back against the back of the chair, his eyes closed. Mary, who had been enjoying watching his undeniably strong reactions to her, leaned to whisper in his ear again.

"Watch me."

Matthew forced his eyes open, and numerous expletives escaped his mouth as he watched Mary's hands fondle and pump him, her perfect face gazing at him with a smile which was equally enigmatic as it was alluring.

Seeing that he was about to expire, Mary took the opportunity to kiss him again. He was a surprisingly good kisser. She had presumed – with a face as angelic as his – that he would be helpless and clumsy in this sort of situation, but she was pleasantly startled to find that he could give as good as he got when it came to kissing.

And so Mary swallowed his cries as he broke apart at her own hands. Much to her annoyance, the late-night librarian wandered to their corner of the library about twenty seconds later and peered curiously over at their table.

"Everything alright over here?" The 67 year old man with unnaturally bushy eyebrows asked.

"Yes, fine, thanks." Mary replied curtly, taking it upon herself to reply while Matthew tried to regain normal levels of breathing and pulse-rate. She had been wildly aroused by what had just taken place, but the sight of the overweight, unkempt librarian rather stifled her appetite. "We're trying to study but there seems to be some disturbance outside." She lied, hoping the old man with the typically unreliable hearing would believe that the sounds came from outside and leave them alone.

"Oh, I see." The man said, glancing out of the window confusedly. He smiled apologetically at the two of them as he hobbled away. But not before nodding casually at Matthew. "Y'alright, Matthew? You look a bit flustered." He said, looking over the top of his large glasses to assess the younger man.

Matthew could do nothing but nod vigorously, not trusting himself to speak in case some of his stifled curse words and moans from a few minutes ago rushed out of his mouth.

Appeased, the man continued to limp away and back down the stairs to the main desk.

…

A/N: pretty steamy, I know. I'd just like to point out that I most certainly did not engage in any behaviour of this sort while I was at university! And I am usually a bit old-fashioned when it comes to this sort of thing but for some reason when it comes to fanfic the smutty side of me comes out! Anyway, let me know your thoughts. And I promise an update to Unwanted Rings in the next week or so! xxx