Before My Brain Did

I was listening to a woman describe her favorite part of sex when my body recognized it before my brain did.

She was part of the OMGYES research, describing the pleasure of being teased, where the thing you want arrives only some of the time. They call it Hinting, and 73% of women enjoy it. I’d felt exactly that for years without hearing anyone say it, so I’d filed it under my own odd wiring.

Not odd wiring. A crowd favorite that nobody says out loud.

Women: if the waiting has always been half the fun, you’re not being difficult. You’re in the majority, and there’s a whole vocabulary for the pleasure you’ve been quietly enjoying.

Partners: when she likes the wait, take it as an invitation to play. For most women the anticipation is pleasure in its own right, and the research shows how others keep it going.