“The one that sticks out was the first time we made love without birth control,” says Abby*, 44, married to Frank, 41. “It just felt so much more intimate—after years of using condoms, there was literally nothing between us. And, of course, the fact that we were ready to make another human being with each other was insanely romantic.”
Try it: This kind of intimacy isn’t just about ditching protection (and we don’t need to tell you that this is a must if you’re not in a monogamous relationship, right?). To achieve this level of closeness while still playing safe, really take your time touching each other during foreplay.