Sophia sat in her room, nervously flipping through her law textbooks. The weight of the upcoming exams loomed over her, and despite her thorough studying, a knot of anxiety tightened in her chest. She sighed and decided to call her mom, hoping to find some reassurance.

"Mom," Sophia began, her voice tinged with nervousness, "I'm really nervous about these exams. Ethan's been helping me study, but... it's been a bit more intimate than usual."

Her mom's voice came through the phone, calm and curious. "Intimate? How do you mean, sweetheart?"

Sophia hesitated, unsure how to phrase it. "Well, he tries to help me relax while I’m studying. He, uh, touches me… in a way that feels really good."

There was a brief pause before her mom spoke again. "And does it help you? Do you find it easier to remember your work afterward?"

Sophia thought about it for a moment. "Honestly, I do feel more relaxed, and I think I know my work pretty well. But I can’t shake the feeling that it might be distracting me more than helping."

"Maybe you're just overthinking it," her mom suggested gently. "If it helps you stay calm and you’re still getting your studying done, then maybe it’s working. But if it’s making you uncomfortable, you should talk to him about it."

Later, Sophia brought up the conversation with Ethan. They were sitting on the couch, and she was absentmindedly flipping through her notes while Ethan watched her.

"Ethan, I’ve been thinking about what you’ve been doing to help me study," Sophia started, glancing up at him.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, curious. "Yeah? Should I stop?"

She hesitated, then shook her head. "No, I don't want you to stop. But... I’m wondering if it’s actually helping or just distracting me."

Ethan smiled, his hand gently sliding under her top, his fingers softly brushing her skin. "Well, let's test it. How about I ask you some questions?"

Sophia nodded, feeling the familiar warmth of his touch as his hands moved higher, gently playing with her. Ethan began quizzing her on various law topics, his voice calm and steady.

"Okay, let’s start with something simple," Ethan began, his fingers grazing her skin. "What’s the principle of *stare decisis*?"

Sophia’s mind flickered to the answer. "It means that courts should follow precedents set by previous decisions," she answered, trying to focus despite the sensation of his hands.

"Good," Ethan said, his touch continuing to distract but also strangely grounding her. "Now, what’s the significance of *Marbury v. Madison*?"

"It established judicial review," Sophia replied, her breath catching slightly as his hands moved. She quickly added, "It gave courts the power to strike down laws that are unconstitutional."

Ethan grinned, clearly impressed. "You’re two for two. Let’s try a trickier one. What’s the rule in *Rylands v. Fletcher*?"

Sophia took a deep breath, trying to keep her thoughts clear. "It’s about strict liability for landowners. If something escapes from their land and causes harm, they’re liable, even if they weren’t negligent."

Ethan’s grin widened. "See? You’re nailing these. Maybe it does work, or maybe you’re just more worried than you need to be."

Sophia smiled, feeling a bit more reassured. "Thanks, Ethan. Maybe you’re right. I just need to trust myself a bit more."

Ethan leaned in, his voice soft and reassuring. "And I’m here to help you, however you need it. You’re going to ace these exams, Soph."

With his support, Sophia felt the tension ease from her shoulders. Maybe Ethan’s methods were a bit unconventional, but there was no denying that she felt more confident—and ready to take on her exams.