I shot him a look.

I have, actually, she replied, nonchalant. Shawn burst into a braying laugh.

Just from the sound? Emily asked, astounded.

It’s more than sound, Howard said.

Shawn was absolutely delighting in all of this—You’ve honestly had an orgasm, just from The Hum? And you’re only telling us this now?

Despite all the levity, Jo remained stony-faced. To be honest, Howard and I really struggled with whether to share this—deeper aspect of The Hum with you at all.

It’s very powerful, Howard said. And very easily misunderstood.

Right, well don’t hold back on us, Shawn replied, splaying his hands. We can take it.

Well that’s our hope, Jo said, still not conceding to the general giddiness of the room. Hopefully we’ve established enough trust.

Everyone quietly exchanged glances. The group appeared a great deal more certain and enthusiastic about what had just happened than I felt, even Nora and Emily and the ever-serious Damian, which surprised me, being the more conservative three among us.

I hope I don’t freak you out when I say this, Jo began, but a few times, not often, but a few times when I’ve been able to tune, and stay in tune . . . I’ve had a ten-minute orgasm.

Shawn’s jaw dropped. Get the fuck out.

Hands-free.

Leslie seemed to almost choke on a laugh.

Emily shook her head in awe like a daytime talk-show audience member. I found myself wondering when Emily, buttoned-up and pushing seventy, might have last experienced an orgasm of any sort. I got the feeling there wasn’t much happening in that department between her and Tom anymore, and somehow, I struggled to picture her working magic with a suction dildo in the shower.

There was one afternoon I came eight times, Jo said. And I honestly could’ve kept going too.

You must’ve gotten nothing else done, Mia said, with a mixture of knowing and reverence.

It was a Saturday.

Clear the calendar! Shawn was laughing, full teeth and gums.

I think when you figure out how to have eight hands-free orgasms you just make the time, Mia said, sliding back in her armchair and putting her leg up over the side.

And how about you, Leslie asked Howard. Have you been able to?

I have, yes.

Hands-free?

Howard nodded, as if being asked if he flossed.

I knew we had been working towards this for some time now, towards this ‘ecstatic interconnectedness’ that Howard and Jo had been referring to, but somehow this aspect of pleasure, of tantric-like transcendence unsettled me, or at least took me by surprise. I asked them how any of this was even possible.

The Hum makes it possible, Howard replied. It suffuses everything. And it can affect us on a fundamental level.

Yes, but I just don’t understand how—