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The FDA is likely to approve the medicine for ‘pre-exposure prophylaxis’ by June 15.

Truvada is a trade-name for a combination of two antiviral drugs produced by an American biopharmaceutical company in California. Since 2004, it has been widely prescribed to people already infected with HIV. However, an expert committee at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended last week that the medicine be offered daily to uninfected people to prevent them from being infected.

“It’s potentially a valuable addition to the existing HIV prevention methods, and we welcome it,” New Scientist quoted a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization. “Full FDA approval will encourage countries needing additional prevention methods to undertake their own regulatory approval processes. The WHO is in the process of producing new guidance to countries on pre-exposure prophylaxis, and plans to release this in the coming two months.”

It is expected that the primary “target groups” for such preventive treatment would be homosexual men and uninfected partners in couples where one individual is HIV-positive. If approved by the FDA, the use of Truvada for prevention rather than treatment could scale up the overall efforts in the battle to stop the spread of HIV.

And yet, AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein is weary of how people will use the pill.

“I believe that this could be catastrophic in terms of HIV prevention,” he warns.

The argument against approving the pill, says Weinstein, is that it will encourage unprotected sex. While the pill is proven to work in many cases, it is not 100 per cent guaranteed. The result, he says, could only make things worse for AIDS and HIV.

It is worth of mentioning, however, that the FDA has a tendency to accept the advice of its expert committees.

Whether you have been single for a long time or whether you have just come out of a long term relationship, there is no denying that some days are harder than others. However, being single doesn’t have to be a bad thing. By following five simple steps you can start to accept your single status and embrace it.

1: Appreciate Who You Are

One of the main reasons why people feel unhappy when they are single is because they are unhappy with themselves. When you are in a relationship, your energy becomes consumed in making the other person happy. You think about your plans together and you get used to a daily routine. The problem comes when you don’t have that and you need to start thinking about just yourself. Those who are happy with themselves tend to be much happier when they are single than those who don’t.

It can be difficult to learn to like yourself and to appreciate who you are. However this is potentially one of the most important things that you need to do before you enter into a relationship.

2: Accept Your Single Status

It can be easy to try to fight against your single status. Acceptance often sets us free and it will enable you to move past the stigma of being alone. If you constantly find yourself asking why you are single then this applies to you. It is all too easy to focus upon why you are single rather than just accepting the fact that you are.

3: Do What You Want to Do

A major advantage of being single is that you do not have any responsibilities to anybody else. You can do exactly what you want to do, when you want to do it. In a relationship you have to consider the other person’s feelings. You also have to think about what they want as well as what you do. Many people are afraid of this initial freedom when they have just come out of a relationship. However, once you start to do things for yourself you soon start to realise how nice it actually is.

4: Keep Yourself Busy

When you are single one of the best ways to enjoy yourself is to keep yourself busy. Take up new hobbies and find something that you enjoy. Perhaps you could go back to college to better yourself? Or maybe you have always wanted to try something but you have always put it off? Now is the time to focus upon you and to take part in enjoyable activities. Keep busy and you will forget that you are alone. You could even go travelling and learn more about the world. Whatever takes your mind off being single, take full advantage of it.

5: Make New Friends and Cherish Existing Ones

To stop yourself from feeling lonely it would be a good idea to make new friends and spend time with existing ones. When you surround yourself with people who care about you it really does help to keep you happy. Arrange fun nights out with existing friends and take part in different hobbies to find new ones. You can find friends practically everywhere these days including the Internet.

These are just five ways in which you can be happy whilst you are single. Don’t forget – being single is not a downfall. It gives you the opportunity to figure out who you are and to better yourself whilst cherishing your friends and family.

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After all, some reasoned, don’t men really prefer bad girls?

One thing to remember about men’s seeming preference for women that are a bit edgy and daring and less than wholesome is that you can’t pigeonhole all men when it comes to their preferences, any more than you can determine what “all” women want. Some men are truly put off by a woman that is a bit rough and edgy, and may prefer women with sweet and sensitive demeanors. Men who are looking for a family may also want a woman they feel they can trust and that has those “motherly” qualities about her, as opposed to one that is rebellious and unruly.

Some men also have trust issues just as women do, and may see the bad girl as someone they could never trust. These men may prefer women that commit easily and that are more stable in a relationship.

At the same time, it may be said that some men prefer bad girls for the same reasons that some women prefer bad boys; these ones have personality and strength and are fierce and independent. A so-called bad girl may not need the man to decide what they’re going to do on the weekend and to carry the entire conversation as they have their own ideas and are just as strong as he is; in other words, when you’re with a bad girl, you don’t need to do all the work in the relationship.

If you’re concerned that you’re too much of a “good” girl and want to add some toughness to your personality, don’t overdo it. There’s nothing wrong with being more forceful and independent and even fearless, but there is something wrong with being someone you’re not simply because you assume it’s what all men prefer.

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It’s a confusing, hard and difficult thing to even think about. When I came out as bi-sexual, it was hard on a lot of people, but in the end, it turned out fantastic. If you have a feeling that you might be bi-sexual, there are ways to tell if you are bi-sexual. Below, I’m going to go over some of those ways to tell if you are bi-sexual!

1. Gut Feeling

Girls, it all starts with a gut feelings. Sometimes, one of the biggest ways to tell if you are bi-sexual is to really go with your feelings. Your feelings are often right on and truthfully, they reveal so much about you. If you have a gut feeling that you might be able to be attracted to the same sex as well as the opposite sex, you could be bi-sexual.

2. The Attraction Is Deep

Now that you’ve identified the feelings, you have to understand that the attraction is not just a passing thing, it goes deeper than that. The attraction could start with looks, then move into personality and finally, how compatible you two are, even if they are the same sex.

3. You Are Attracted to More than Just The opposite Sex

Being bi-sexual is one of the hardest things to handle. A lot of people don’t understand a lot of the ways to tell you are bi-sexual and also don’t understand … what being bi-sexual is. It is possible to be attracted to more than one gender and if you are feeling that you are attracted to both the same and opposite sex, it could be a sign that you are bi-sexual.

4. Sexual Urges

It doesn’t just boil down to attraction though, it is all sexual urges too. If you are feeling a sexual urge for both genders, it might be a good indication that you are bi-sexual. Or at the very least, you might be a little bi-curious, which is all about experience and testing out the limits!

5. The Feelings Go beyond Looking

It is common, whenever you are out and about to actually look at the same sex, you could even think of a member of the same sex as hot or pretty, but the feelings when you are bi-sexual typically go deeper than that. Ladies, one of the ways to tell you are bi-sexual all revolve around your feelings and if you’ve got strong attraction, it could be something more!

6. Test Your Feelings Out

One of the surefire ways to tell you are bi-sexual is to test your feelings out. There are plenty of girls out there that are feeling exactly the same way you are and why don’t you try to act on your feelings? Who knows, maybe even try dating a girl just to see if that is something that you enjoy.

7. Talk about It

Talking it out with either your friends or your family is a great way to really express exactly what you are feeling. For me, having a support group was really, really important to me. You might even be able to find just one really close friend that you express everything to and that can help you through your bi-sexual tendencies.

8. Do Your Research

Just because you might have sexual thoughts and think one girl is attractive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are bi-sexual, but you may want to do your research. These are just a few of the ways to tell if you are bi-sexual, remember though, it’s all about your feelings and what attracts you!

Coming out to anyone or even having thoughts about being bi-sexual is really difficult. There are definitely ways to tell if you are bi-sexual though. If you think that you are bi-sexual, just take a look at this list! What other ways to tell if you are bi-sexual are there? Any you can think of?

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He keeps his interactions with her a “secret”
One clear sign on the makings of a great relationship is having open and honest communication with your man. So if you find yourself having to guess, wonder or question him about the time that he spends with his kids, then chances are that there is a breakdown in communication in your relationship and I would urge you need to get to the bottom of it pronto. Your man should want to openly share with you all aspects of his life and that naturally would include the raising and the rearing of his kids and oftentimes his kids’ mother is bound to be mentioned in there somewhere. So the next time, you ask him about accompanying him to Junior’s basketball game and he tries to evade the subject or goes as far as to completely check out of the conversation, you may want to dig a little deeper to figure out why you wanting to attend his kid’s basketball game is cause for concern.

You aren’t allowed to ride with him when he goes to pick up his kid(s)

In instances where it would be more sensible and convenient for you to ride along but yet he insists on dropping you off before his scheduled pickup of the kids. Raise the red flag! What’s so top secret over there that you can’t be privy to? Perhaps it is you or more specifically, your existence that is top secret to the baby momma. Not allowing you to ride along is an indication that he is hiding you from her or vice versa, her from you. Whatever the case may be, there is a reason why he doesn’t want the two of you crossing paths. Some men I’ve talked with about this very issue will say that keeping both women at opposite ends presents less drama this way. But let’s be real—if all parties are rational adults and assuming that he has been honest with everyone involved about their respective role in his life then why would there be any drama?

He lets his cell phone go to voicemail when she calls

Hmm…my favorite! That elusive conversation with her that he never seems to want to have in front of you. Granted, if you’re out enjoying a meal at dinner together, then it might be rude of him to answer, but if the two of you are lazying around at the house and he’s in the position to answer the phone but yet you see that he deliberately pushes the button to send the call to voicemail, go ahead and raise your brow to that one. When the phone rings again (and you know it will because most women with call right back), ask him to answer to see what’s up (could be an emergency with the kids, right?). If he answers the phone but gets up and saunters to another area in the room out of your earshot, then “Houston, we definitely have a problem!” What doesn’t he want you to hear? Innocent people typically do not act guilty.

His awkward and nervous reaction the very first time you and his “baby momma” come face to face

This particular indicator correlates with number #2. So you’ve been seriously dating your guy for awhile now and he was comfortable enough to let you meet his kids, then it would only make sense to meet their mother as well, right???? Don’t be silly—no one is suggesting a formal over-the-top introduction—but some sort of introduction is warranted. Most mothers are concerned about the welfare of their children and no matter how much trust or faith they have in knowing that their children’s’ father would not put the kids in harm’s way, I’m sure they would still be interested to know whose company their children are keeping.

So imagine this scenario: You’re out with your guy on date night and it just so happens that his children’s mother is also in the building enjoying a night out with her girlfriends. Ok, in a perfect world, he should use this opportunity to introduce the two of you since you’ve never met, right? If he suggests that the two of you cut out and go somewhere else and is apprehensive or outright reluctant in making an introduction, then that should send a nice clean jab to your gut (take that!). If the baby momma happens to make her way over to you and makes nice, be sure to examine both his and her reactions to your chance meeting. Does he have nervous energy? Is he being short and trying to rush her away? If he’s noticeably uncomfortable and if she appears smug and seemingly taking pleasure in his reaction, then please stop kidding yourself—there is some type of arrangement going on between these two that you clearly did not get the memo on!

In an ideal world, everyone in this situation would have the “All of Us” relationship based on the lives of Will and Jada – you know where the current girlfriend or the wife gets along great with the baby momma/ex, the exes no longer have any romantic feelings for each other and there is little to no drama involved. Sound familiar? Well, maybe not. Perhaps in a perfect world, but that’s not usually how it always works out.

The reality is that there are some men that like to have their cake and eat it too and there are some women that are ok with this and are reaping the benefits and the comforts of being with familiar territory—aka their ex (baby daddy). There might not necessarily be any romantic feelings involved between your man and his baby momma and it is just what it is – they have a mutually agreed upon arrangement between themselves for periodic sexual maintenance. Please hold your appall, I’m here to tell you that this type of deal is real and it is very, very prevalent.

So, if you notice any of those 4 indicators in your relationship; then I would suggest that you STOP, Do not collect $200 dollars and definitely, DO NOT PASS GO! Any one of these signs are worthy of further discussion with your man. If you have the slightest intuition that something seems awry with him and his “baby momma,” then you need to voice your concerns and let him know how his actions or the lack thereof are making you feel. If you ignore your gut and fail to communicate any of your suspicions to your man, you will soon find yourself going down that slippery slope of playing Colombo by checking text and voicemail messages to confirm your suspicions—and girl, let me tell you—the moment you have to resort to these covert tactics to uncover deceit in your relationship is the moment that YOUR RELATIONSHIP CAN BE DECLARED AS OFFICIALLY OVER!

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New relationships can be hard to handle in the beginning, but they are also super exciting! So how can you tell if he is really into you long-term? What signs he loves you are there? Well ladies, stay tuned because below, I’m going to explore the top 10 signs he loves you so that you can spot love out right away!

1. Eye Contact
Most guys when they are not interested in something look away. Most of the time, if you watch a guy long enough, you will begin to see the exact moment he loses his interest – his eyes advert. If your man is constantly looking into your eyes, constantly keeping up eye contact, that is one of the first signs he is in love with you!

2. Interested in You
If your boyfriend starts to really dive deep into who you are on the inside, instead of on the surface, he is definitely into you. When a man is interested in a girl, he wants to know their deepest secrets, their wants and desires, their dreams and how you get inspired. When these questions start to come up, this is one of the signs he loves you – even if he can’t admit it yet!

3. Cuddling
I am so not a touchy-feely type of person. It just isn’t who I am, but when I found my BH, it was magically. Instantly, I couldn’t stop touching her and cuddling her. If he is constantly cuddling you, it’s definitely one of the signs he loves you!

4. Small Touches
Cuddling is much different than small little touches. A soft touch to the small of your back, to the crook of your arm, to the back of your neck. Small touches make a huge difference and that is actually how a guy shows that he is really into you!

5. Introduces You to His Friends
A man in love is not scared to introduce his girlfriend to his friends. He knows that no matter what they think, they are going to see how happy he is and instantly love her (most of the time). If you get to meet his friends, that is definitely one of the fist signs he is in love with you.

6. Wants You to Meet His Family
After the friends, the family is next. A lot of the time, guys won’t bring home just any girl to their mom and dad. If your guy brings you to his parent’s house, that’s a really good sign he loves you and he could be getting ready to admit it!

7. Texts You First
If your boy is constantly calling you, constantly texting you first, you know you got a good guy and that he really cares about you. There are guys out there that don’t leave their girlfriend sweet texts during their work day or in the middle of the night so they will see it in the morning. If your guy is doing that, he’s definitely in love with you!

8. Makes You Laugh
When you are in a relationship, it isn’t something that should be boring and stiff all of the time. You should be able to let loose and have fun. If your guy can make you laugh and make you really feel special, he’s probably going to be the one that ends up at the end of the aisle for you!

9. Spends Time with You
Typically, if a guy just doesn’t feel it and really isn’t into you, he won’t want to spend any time with you. If your boyfriend is constantly looking for an excuse to spend time with you – he’s probably in love. Whether it is seeing you for lunch or just popping over so he could spend some time with you – make sure that you return the favor and go out of your way to spend time with him too.

10. Says ‘I Love You’
Finally, when he admits that he loves you, that is when you know for sure that he does. Most of the time (not all, but most), if I guy finally tells his girlfriend that he loves them, it is a big deal for them. Guys have a very difficult time expressing their feelings, keep that in mind.

As you can see, spotting signs he loves you is not easy, but if you pay attention – you might be able to tell the exact moment when he falls for you. If you have a boyfriend that hasn’t admitted his love yet, just wait it out and look for these signs he loves you – who knows, maybe he is scared of rejection. What do you ladies think? Do you have a man that you are waiting to say ‘I Love You’? Share your stories!!

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Well, we might as well say that it is true for guys as well. Many girls might be confused as to what are the ways to make a guy happy. This might differ from person to person, but we sure can point out a few common ones.

1. Stroke his ego from time to time. Let him have an upper hand every now and then. It does not mean that you must heed to his every wish; it just means that you can make him smile by making him feel important.

2. Sex is really important to most guys. So, if you and the guy are in a relationship where sex has become a routine, make sure you bring in some spice into it. Use sex toys or explore new places for you have to sex and surprise the guy!

3. Let him talk. Guys have a common notion that girls keep on blabbering while guys rarely get a chance to do so. Give your guy a chance to talk his heart out. Ask questions about his childhood, his fantasies and dreams. On a day-to-day basis, enquire about his day at work.

4. Don’t object the guys’ night out if your guy wants to have one! You need to give your guy some space since that is one of the ways to make a guy happy.

5. Express your love for him. Don’t be stingy with the hugs and kisses. Guys love physical contact. Not just sex, but the mere act of touching can please your guy.

6. Surprise him from time to time by doing things that he loves very much. If your guy likes to eat, cook something delicious for him. If your guy likes to watch action movies, buy two tickets to such a movie and ask him out.

7. Appreciate him and encourage the things that he does for you. Show him that you are thankful for the little mindful things he does. It may be as simple as walking you home, or buying you a purse.

8. Take your guy’s side in an argument. Whether it is with your parents or with a drunken man at the bar. Make sure you stand by your guy’s side since it is one of the most important ways to make a guy happy.

9. Dress up ladies! If you want your guy to be happy, then take pains to dress up and show how beautiful you really are. You don’t need to do this everyday, but you must do it every now and then. You could buy sexy lingerie, dress yourself in it for a night and blow his mind out.

10. Be optimistic and cheerful with your guy. If you are not happy, your guy will certainly not be happy. This is certainly one of the most important ways to make a guy happy!

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The “happy ending” tale is all too common, a mixture of truth and urban legend that captivates male imaginations even in an age of casual sex and unlimited Internet porn.

“It’s always a certain type of place,” said Brian, a 41-year-old screenwriter who admits to visiting the odd “men’s spa” or two (though never, of course, for that). “You go for a reason, and you know what you’re getting when you walk in the door.”

The rest of spa culture, meanwhile, is dominated by women. There are more than 14,000 spas in the U.S. bringing in around $10 billion in annual revenue, and their predominantly female clientele average more than 100 million visits per year. With all that time spent around low lighting, soft music, and heavy rubbing, it can be tough not to think of sex. But until recently, the female version of “happy endings” has remained doggedly taboo.

Luckily, any “rules” restricting female sexuality are dying as fast as Sex and the City repeats can slay them, and it was only a matter of time before women embraced the notion that “quick releases” aren’t just for men. And with competition among spas getting ever more intense, customers are starting to demand more than just Enya and free herbal tea with their Shiatsu, according to massage therapists. “It’s such a well-known thing for guys, and women are finally getting more comfortable asking for it,” said Anna, a self-described “massage healer” who has worked at several upscale spas and performed happy endings on female customers. (Names have been changed to protect the less-than-innocent.) “Women are finally getting comfortable with the idea that it’s ok to feel erotic in what’s already a really erotic setting.”

The bottom line: We like massages and we like orgasms, so why shouldn’t the two sometimes, er, come hand in hand? Read: The Hands-Free Orgasm

The answer is that they can and do, though the logistics can get complicated. “With men, there’s no subtle approach when it comes to a happy ending,” said Tyler, a 6’4″ hunk of tattooed muscle who has worked as a masseur at several New York City spas. “Some will ask outright, plus they have this appendage that’s obvious, and gives you a clear idea of where they want to go. But with women, it’s so subtle. There’s really no way to know if they want sexual contact, even if there’s moaning and heavy breathing.”

For many women (myself included) the idea of point blank asking a hot masseur to “finish me off” sounds about as appealing as a full-body exfoliation with Brillo pads. And as Samantha learned in the now-notorious SATC Episode 33, making demands can result in humiliation. So if you’re into it, how do you avoid embarrassment and still come out fully satisfied?

The key, according to veterans like Amy, a 32-year-old model/actress who has had happy ending massages in two different states, is clear but subtle communication: “It’s all about giving the right signals.” She first discovered erotic massage during an in-room rubdown at an upscale Miami hotel. “Initially the masseur kept it very clean, but I was really turned on, and I let him know it by moaning and saying how good it felt. He started slowly touching my thigh, then going higher, and it turned into a game of how far each of us would take it. One thing led to another and he ended up finishing me off, which was great.”

Occasionally, a spa’s reputation for sensual goings-on will precede it, as with New York City’s famed 10th Street Russian Baths. An East Village fixture famous for its massive steam rooms and “women only” days, it once drew celebrities from John Belushi to Frank Sinatra and now attracts a cross section of New Yorkers from Russian sexagenarians to downtown fashionistas.

“At first you’re on your stomach, so they’re just massaging your back,” said Trish, a 29-year-old marketing manager who frequents the Baths. “Then they turn you over, and my masseur started massaging my breasts. My nipples got erect, so that must have sent him a signal. He started rubbing me on the pressure points around my hips. I was wearing bikini bottoms, and he never actually touched my clitoris or vagina; it was just all around the area. I did have an orgasm; afterwards, people kept stopping me on the street to say, ‘Oh my God, you’re glowing.’”

Chemistry with your masseur is a key factor, and one that can’t always be controlled. But if it’s present, the possibilities are endless. “I was going through a divorce and feeling like hell,” said Alexa, a 30-year-old attorney. “So I went to a high-end spa for a massage, and the only person available was a guy— I was nervous, I’d never had a man massage me before. He ended up being so hot. I was turned on the whole time, but nothing happened. Then I went back two weeks later. I was on my stomach while he massaged my back, and when I turned around, topless, we started making out. He said, ‘I can’t do this, it’s unprofessional,’ so we stopped. But when I went back a third time, we ended up having sex in the massage room. After that, we started dating.”

Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that the risks can be high for massage therapists. Every state (save Nevada and Rhode Island) considers prostitution illegal, and in some states it can lead to months of jail time. Also upping the ante is the gray area surrounding sexual assault, generally defined as nonconsensual touching of the genital area.

So how hard is it to find that perfect massage combination of chemistry, timing, setting, and mood? I hit the massage tables to find out. Stop No. 1 was Cornelia Day Spa on Fifth Avenue, known for its Chanel-clad clientele and handsome male staff. I booked a Swedish massage and showed up with high expectations. But after 60-minutes of awkwardness peppered with a few moans that provoked no response besides “Is the pressure OK?” I decided to call in reinforcements. So I dispatched a sexy and adventurous friend, Joanna, on a spa mini-marathon, with instructions to request a male massage therapist and, if possible, end each massage with a big finish.

Her first stop was Great Jones Spa, a relaxation Mecca for the downtown set. “It was definitely a ‘my husband is a venture capitalist, I eat vegan and live in a loft’ kind of crowd,” said Joanna, who made sure to request “the best man you have” for her Swedish massage. The result was Andy, a pony-tailed Adonis with bicep tattoos and a winning smile. As he massaged her thighs, she flirted with comments like, “That feels sooo good” and “Feel free to keep going.” At first, her advances brought no response, but after a while he treated her to a polite, non-judgmental lecture about how “going there” was against the rules, and he loved his job too much to put it at risk.

“I was feeling a little rejected,” Joanna said. “But after it was over, he rushed out to the waiting room to introduce me to his girlfriend—apparently she was nearby—and asked if I wanted to ‘hang out’ with the two of them sometime. So I felt better—though I said no.”

Next was the ultra-opulent Mandarin Oriental Spa, known for its lavish views and obsequious service. “I felt like I could throw a fit over the temperature of my Pellegrino, and it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary,” Joanna observed. This time, her method consisted of suggestive moaning and pulling the strategically placed towel away during the “inner thigh” portion of her deep tissue massage. Her masseur, immaculately groomed and very clearly gay, resisted her advances, saying simply, “I love my job here, and I’d do anything to keep it.” Afterwards, he pulled her aside and said, “Honey, I think what you need is to visit the Vitality Pool.”

“I couldn’t figure out what he meant,” she said. “Then I saw the Vitality Pool.” Located in the ladies-only “Heat Experience Room,” it consists of a tub filled with room-temperature water, a bench made of metal bars, and intense water jets that shoot up straight from the floor. “As soon as I sat down, I realized what he was getting at,” said Joanna. “There’s no point of having an open bench in a hot tub where jets shoot up between your legs other than to have an orgasm. It took me all of two minutes of sitting there to climax, then the woman who went in after me looked like she took 30 seconds.”

While the experience was refreshing (“I definitely left with a glow”) we still had two spas down and no results. Then Joanna got a tip in the Mandarin’s plush relaxation room. “I started chatting with this woman in her mid-thirties, who looked like she went to spas all the time,” she said. “When I mentioned I was going to another spa tomorrow, she told me ‘Oh, you have to go to Cornelia. You should ask for Tron definitely not his real name; he’s fantastic.’ Her voice did not sound like she was describing a massage.”

The next day, Joanna arrived at Cornelia primed for victory. “The second I saw Tron, we had instant chemistry,” she said. “He was definitely hot. I flirted with him all the way from the waiting room to the massage room, and we chatted about our lives. When we got inside, I talked about how I hated having underwear and towels constricting me during massages, and he said, ‘I’m comfortable with you having them off.’ About 15 minutes into the massage, I let my hand graze his thigh and I could see his erection. Finally, he turned me over, and it was on.”

Kissing turned to heavy petting with a strong dose of grinding, until he was on top of her on the massage table. Joanna recalls the make-out session as being totally comfortable—at one point, they both started laughing—but after the first few minutes, she broke away, saying, “I’m sorry, this is so inappropriate.” His response: “Sweetie, you are my reward for the two men who asked me for happy endings earlier today. I told them no—but for you, I won’t tell if you won’t.” When she coyly asked if she was the first woman who’d expressed interest in more than a massage, he sidestepped with, “Well, you know how it is.”

The impromptu liaison went on for the rest of the hour, and another 30 minutes beyond. “It was very romantic and totally mutual—it didnâ’t feel like I was just being serviced,” she recalls. “He asked after a while if I wanted to have sex, but neither of us had a condom,” said Joanna. “I considered giving him a blow job, but then I was like, ‘I’m paying for this!’”

Her advice after a successful venture? “You have to be open to having that kind of experience. And not exactly be subtle about what you want.” When it comes to massage sex, the chances are high that you’ll encounter fuzzy boundaries and ephemeral guidelines, and one woman’s violation may be another’s fantasy. But just as with a female presidential candidate, whether you think happy endings are the pinnacle of bliss or the apex of vileness, it’s still nice to have the option.

Photo: Getty Images //

Certain sex positions facilitate higher levels of emotional intimacy. These positions allow a couple to go beyond their sensory experience, intensifying the intimacy of their encounters and imbuing them with emotional meaning. Eye contact, kissing, caresses, trusting, watching. . . these are emotional complements to the physical experience, and these nine sex positions promote that beautiful, emotional connection.

1. Woman On Top. A man lying down with the woman on top can be a vulnerable position for both lovers, which in itself can create emotional intimacy. He must rely on her decisions, while she is bared and exposed for his perusal. This position is ideal for lots of touching and intimate caresses.

2. Hold Me. In this position the man holds the woman as if she’s just jumped into his arms. With her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck, this loving position is conducive to slow movements, passionate kisses and romantic swaying.

3. Enhanced Missionary. The missionary position is already intimate, with faces close and full-body contact. To enhance the emotional intimacy, the man can hold the woman’s butt or move his legs to the outside of hers to more fully envelop her body. And if a couple is so inclined, this position also offers a good approach for anal sex by retaining face-to-face emotional intimacy.

4. Spooning. Although there is no eye contact in spooning, this sex position creates intense emotional connectedness as the man protectively cradles the woman with his entire body. It’s also a wonderful position for touching, squeezing, rubbing—and even hand-holding, which can be incredibly intimate during sex.

5. Hands Free. With the man sitting on a chair, and his woman astride him, facing him, with her feet on the floor, the couple not only has face-to-face contact, but also maximum access for tantalizing kisses, whispers. . . and four free hands for touching.

6. Crossed Legs or Lotus. The lotus sex position offers stunning emotional intimacy. With the man sitting cross-legged, or in the actual yogic lotus position, and his woman on his lap, arms and legs wrapped around him, the lovers are fully entwined and face to face. The need for slower, sensual movements in this position adds romantic intensity.

7. Standing Missionary. Turn the missionary position 90 degrees so both people are standing and you’ll find that this full-body-contact sex position has added intensity. Muscles tighten to remain standing and, even with a support behind her, both partners are more physically dependent on each other.

8. Slow Going. In this sex position, the man is seated, legs extended, leaning back on his arms. His woman sits on top facing him, then leans back herself and extends her legs behind him. By necessity, this position requires slow, gentle movements. There is an electric emotional intimacy in not being able to move much, only being able to watch each other.

9. Higher Love. The woman lies on her back at the edge of a bed or another surface, and puts her legs on the standing man’s shoulders. Both lovers share control; the man with the movements, and the woman using her legs to push him back a bit and slow him down, or to let him lean all the way into her.

Which positions create emotional intimacy for you?

Photo: Getty Images //

Most of us probably have a lube bottle or two stashed in our bedside table and for good reason—some extra moisture can work wonders during marathon sex or anal experimentation.

But are we being a little too vanilla when it comes to lube usage? Can we put that bottle to work more often in the bedroom? As a matter of fact, yes. We sat down with relationship educator and author of Hot Monogamy, Pat Love, to brainstorm a few out-of-the-box ways lube can make hot sex even hotter.

1. Get to know your man’s G-spot. The man’s G-spot is the place right between the anus and the penis, says Love, and if you want to really give him a thrill try applying some warming lube to your finger and gently work the area. “It creates a fantastic element of surprise,” she says. “Most men will be open to it, too.” Why Do Guys Love Lube?

2. Make oral sex delicious. Astroglide has a strawberry-flavored lube on the market that can make 69 tastier than before. “The strawberry flavor has no sugar and doesn’t cause yeast infections,” she says. So use without abandon. “A little goes along way,” she adds. “So once you feel like it’s dried up, just add a few drops of water to make it come back to life.”

3. Erotic massage anyone? On your next lazy Sunday try spreading warming lube all over each other’s bodies and get in touch with your inner masseuse. There’s no hotter foreplay than working on each other’s neck and shoulder knots. 10 Reasons To Use Lube

4. Rediscover the art of the hand job. It’s quite possible the last time you gave a hand job was back in high school. No judgments here, but maybe you’ll want to get handy under the sheets (or on the couch or under the kitchen table…) with dollop of lube and a few extra minutes. Your man will thank you.