10 Sexy G-Rated Activities

Flattery

"O, flatter me; for love delights in praises," writes Shakespeare, the grand bard of romance. Flattery is key to foreplay. Words of affirmation build confidence, and there's nothing sexier than confidence. Throughout the day, make a conscious effort to flatter your mate. Simple compliments are "the glues that seal love's compact," says Willis Goth Regier in In Praise of Flattery.

Choreplay

This one is specifically for men. Fellas, if you want to get your lady in the mood, help out around the house! Research shows that having a man help with chores makes a woman more eager to get busy in bed. Help put her mental to-do list to rest and you’ll free up space for her to focus on having fun.

Be Active

One might say the couple that sweats together stays together. When you get the blood pumping, endorphins and adrenaline release and make you feel happier. When a couple shares this instant mood boost, positive associations towards one another and about the relationship are created. Go for a bike ride, run or hike together, and then spend the cool-down period helping the other stretch.

Read Aloud

Free from technology's distractions, it's just you, him and a shared imagination. This intimate activity is a great opportunity to get a sense of your partner's interior space. Take turns reading pages while cuddling on the couch. Try Ovid (he's sexy, just give him a chance) or, for something more contemporary, Paulo Coelho's 11 Minutes.

Hold Hands

"Hand-holding is an anywhere, anytime activity that can wordlessly communicate everything from 'we're together' to 'let's get it on,'" says Shela Dean, YourTango relationship expert and author of Frequent Foreplay Miles. "Extra attention to fingertips and the spot between fingers stimulates the production of oxytocin and other hormones that trigger the urge to get close — really close.”

Cook Together

The heat of the kitchen, the casual brush-by as you pass in tight quarters. Add even more heat by choosing foods that are aphrodisiacs. Oysters and chocolate are passion-inducing standbys, and recent scent research shows the combined scent of pumpkin and lavender increases blood flow to a man's erogenous zones.

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Eat Together

While breaking bread with another person is a sign of familiarity, how you do it can be a reflection of intimacy. Feeding each other bites of food from one another's plates can be highly erotic. Or forget the silverware completely and use your hands as utensils. Devouring popsicles while sustaining eye contact is an old favorite that will be sure to get anybody in the mood.

Change It Up

Sometimes it doesn't matter what you are doing together so long as it is different and gets you out of your routine. Normally see the period piece at the movies? Go for the action flick instead. Experiencing new things together makes you eager for more shared adventures, in and out of the bedroom.

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Gaze at Each Other

As Ethan Hawke’s character in Before Sunrise describes it, have a Quaker wedding: “The couple kneels in front of the whole congregation, and they just stare at each other ... nobody says a word unless they feel that God moves them to speak. After an hour or so of just staring at each other, they're married.” We suggest trying it for three minutes.

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