I take a deep breath. “He seemed to think it was very normal for a woman to achieve an orgasm every time she went to bed with him. I told him she would have been faking it, because I couldn’t believe any guy would bother to bring a woman to climax every time they had sex. But this guy was adamant he was right and I was wrong. I haven’t had that much experience, just four guys over the years, but none of them have ever been interested in foreplay, and I’ve hardly ever climaxed during sex. And I just wondered what you thought.”
My face has grown warm. Part of me was worried Abby might laugh, but she frowns thoughtfully.
“I haven’t had that much experience,” she says. “I was with Tom for fourteen years, and before him there were only two other guys, and we were very young, so there wasn’t a lot of foreplay going on.”
“And with Tom?”
She hesitates, concentrating on making sure Ethan’s getting his milk. I’m sure she feels awkward talking about her ex, and I half wish I hadn’t brought the topic up.
But she looks up, and I can see she’s been thinking about what to say. “I read an article in a women’s magazine once,” she says. “It said twenty percent of women seldom have an orgasm, and five percent never have one. I certainly don’t think your experience is isolated. It also said something like seventy-five percent can’t reach orgasm from intercourse alone, and that was certainly my experience. When Tom and I were younger, and we spent a lot of time in bed, things were better, but as the years went by and sex became more perfunctory, he became less concerned with my pleasure, and in the end it was just about him achieving a climax. If I wanted one, I had to organize it myself.” She gives me an amused look.
I feel some relief at her words—that I’m not alone. “But now?” I ask. “With Noah? Sorry, I don’t mean to pry, but…” I can’t explain how important it is for me to understand.
Her smile turns mischievous. “Oh, things are a lot better with Noah. He’s very unselfish. Maybe it’s because he’s older, and has been alone for a long time. I don’t know. I mean, men aren’t born knowing how to pleasure a woman. We’re complicated creatures and it takes time. They have to want to do it.”
“But in your experience, some men do?”
“Oh yes.” She sighs and shifts Ethan to the other breast. “You sound very like me. I never talked about this, either. And then I met Summer, and Nix, and Remy, who are all very open about their love lives, and it was like a revelation. They obviously all have a fulfilling sex life. You can tell from what they say. I think a lot of it depends on the guy, and your relationship with him. If he loves you, and he’s kind and generous, and you’re able to talk, there’s no reason it won’t be amazing.”
I chew my bottom lip. Marc doesn’t love me, but he is kind and generous. So it’s possible that he was telling the truth? Every time he has sex with a woman, he’s able to give her an orgasm?
Oh.
My.
God.
“So…” Abby draws out the word. “Are you going to tell me who this mystery man is?”
“Um…” We both smile, then start laughing. “It’s not a thing,” I say. “We’re not dating or anything.”
“But you’re obviously thinking about it.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?”
I sigh. “It’s Marc.”
She looks confused. “Marc who?”
“Fitzgerald.”
“Oh, Fitz!” She laughs. “I didn’t know that was his first name.” Her eyes dance. “I see. I’d heard he was interested in you.”
“He asked me out the night of the cyclone.”
“Oh, and?”
“I said no. I don’t want another relationship.”
I wait for her to argue with me, but her expression just softens, and she says, “I understand. So… why the questions about orgasms, then?”
I give in and explain it all to her. That I approached him to be a sperm donor, and he told me he’ll only get me pregnant the old-fashioned way.
She stares at me, trying hard not to laugh, then gives in and giggles. “What a naughty boy.”