Clint and his friends were now in their Sophomore term. They were enjoying their classes, and each other. As sophomores, they were permitted to live in off-campus housing, and they'd pooled their resources to make that happen. This gave them a lot more privacy. They could focus on their studies, with each party assisting the others when the material fell under their area of strength. All were benefiting academically.
As far as their more intimate relationships, those were developing and thriving in their newfound seclusion as well. The couples could make love every night, and sleep snuggled happily together. Even though they sometimes gathered in their living room for sex, they weren't swapping partners, since Jimmy still preferred to have all of Heather's attentions to himself.
Clint didn't mind in the least, since Skylar was his. Looking over and seeing Heather and Jimmy having sex did enhance the experience for him, as well as for Skylar. In addition to the sight of their close friends making love, there were also the sounds and scents that enhanced the experience. All in all, it was a wonderful time, and all four of them were blissfully happy... at least, that's what Clint thought.
But one evening, Skylar said, "Let's go out to the cafe, Master. There's someone I'd like you to meet." Since they had no major exams imminent, or papers due, Clint had no objections about getting out of the house for a while with his lover. Hand in hand, they strolled through the soft early evening air to the partially-filled cafe.
They placed their drink orders, and were waiting for them to be filled when Skylar tapped his shoulder and pointed. "Here she is. Right on time." Grinning happily, she waved the woman over.
The woman in question caught sight of Skylar, and waved back, as her lips curved into a lovely smile that seemed to make her dark eyes light up. She appeared to be as tall as Clint, but she was wearing heels, so she might've been an inch or two shorter than him. Her hair was as dark as midnight, and she appeared to be slightly older then they were, so Clint assumed she must be a senior. Her figure was one he could appreciate, perhaps a little smaller in the chest than Skylar, but a little bigger below her narrow waist.
As she reached them, Skylar performed the introductions. "Clint, this is Pru. Pru, I'd like you to meet my guy, Clint." Pru extended a graceful hand and Clint shook it gently, although he had a mad impulse to raise it to his lips instead, continental-style. There was something about the way that Pru carried herself that almost demanded that response.
"Hello, Clint. I'm glad to finally meet you in person. Skylar has been raving about you so much, I feel like I almost know you already." Her smile washed over him, and her enticing scent wafted into his nostrils. Her eyes held his, steadily.
Clint was momentarily transfixed, but realized he needed to respond. "Ummm... I'm glad to meet you as well, Pru. Uh, Pru? Is Pru short for anything?"
She laughed softly. "It's short for Prudence, but please never call me that."
He chuckled, a little nervously. "OK, it's a promise. Err, can we order you a drink?"
Pru touched his arm, saying, "That's sweet of you, Clint. Tell them I'd like my usual. They'll know."
Apparently, the barista did indeed know, because Pru's drink arrived at the same time as his and Skylar's. Clint was aware of a residual warmth on his arm, either real or imagined, where Pru had rested her hand. He almost felt like running his finger around his collar, like the trope that shows a person letting off steam.
After ordering their drinks they found a secluded table in the corner. They chatted amicably, and Pru was obviously smart and well read. She knew a lot about art, so Clint assumed Skylar must have met her at one of her art classes. He decided it would be polite to ask. "Where did you and Pru meet, Skylar?"
Skylar grinned mischievously. "I met her in my freshman figure drawing class, honey."
Clint looked the dark-haired woman over with an appreciative eye. "I hope she was the model," he whispered, beaming a warm smile.
"Why, thank you for that lovely compliment," Pru replied, blushing. "Skylar has been extolling your virtues to me, but she didn't mention your gallant flattery."
Things seemed to be progressing well, in Skylar's opinion. She bumped Clint's knee under the table, trying to pass him something. It was a handkerchief, with something small and solid in it.
Clint leaned over to whisper in her ear. "What's this, sweetie?"
"Something that Pru asked to see. Show it to her," was the soft reply.
As he unwrapped it, he found that Skylar had passed him the pulsating pebble. She must've fetched it from his drawer. It rested in his palm, blinking erratically. Confused, he held out the pebble to Pru's view, keeping it slightly under the edge of the table. "Skylar says that you asked to see this, Pru. Is that right?"
Pru looked down at his palm. "Oh, yes! So that's the mysterious pebble she told me about. She said it's been blinking for more than a year, and you have no idea how it does that. Fascinating. I just had to see it." She stared at it for a while.