the most ideal date
you and your partner(s) spend an afternoon establishing safe touches and cuddling together. maybe on a bed or maybe just on a couch or a really big chair. each person takes turns saying and showing how they like to be touched
a hand smoothing slowly down your ribs, across your hip, and to your thigh
or nails dragging lightly across the inside of your arm, kind of ticklish but in that pleasant soothing sensation
thumbs rubbing circles into your hips or the heel of your foot or across your knuckles
saying what you don’t like–certain positions that bring back bad memories or body parts that are Not OK to touch. saying any of the above is not OK and making new suggestions. I don’t like having the back of my neck touched ever, but it’s grounding when you put your hand on top of my chest. Missionary position actually scares me a lot. I don’t like people on top of me when I’m on my back. I love being the little spoon though!
your partner(s) go through their list too, maybe just saying it out loud, maybe taking your hands to run them across their body to show you. actually knowing what they want and what makes them feel happy and safe without trying to guess and feeling awkward.
they know what touches are safe and comforting to you too, and you spend the whole afternoon cuddling and touching each other, maybe trading back massages for head scritches or foot rubs. none of it is sexual. maybe just not yet, maybe not ever.
quick little kisses all over your face until you’re laughing and blushed red, maybe a tickle fight retaliation
watching a documentary or reading a book or listening to music. each of you doing different things and that’s OK, you’re enjoying your different things separately but still together, still poking each other to show something cool, still shoving your cold feet against their warm skin, or maybe you’re not touching at all and that’s what’s Safe, warm glances and smiles just as intimate
nothing is scary and there’s no pressure. just a sunny afternoon laying in bed, whispering to each other, learning how to be good and happy


















