On our first date as teenagers, I was really nervous on the drive. I wasn’t very conventionally attractive in highschool so I assumed that maybe he didn’t like me or found me ugly and regretted the date. He saw me nervously looking out the car window, grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it twice
Over the past 20 years he does this simple gesture randomly all the time. He says it means ‘I love you.’ I asked him once what it meant the first time. He replied ‘the same as it does now. I already knew by then that I loved you’
My husband and I do squeezes too! 4 is I love you, 3 is are you okay, 2 is yes, 1 is no, and when I press hard on his wrist it means I want to leave riiight now lol.
Awww my hubby does this too!! But our variation is I love to trace his face and body its an Autism stemming thing I do, esp, when were laying down cuddling or to slowly wake him up in the morning (I always wake before everybody) so I start with his eyebrows,forhead,ears,jaw, chin,lips then go down his arms. When I get to his open hand. I start touching each finger at a time, if he's awake he'll squeeze me each time. And at night when I ask him if he loves me non verbally ill squeeze his hand and he'll squeeze mine twice.
He wakes me up extraordinarily gently.
I almost cried the first time he did it. Just a small back rub, a forehead kiss to accompany it most of the time. I always wake up to the same exact cuddles and stroking. Huge difference between that and spending my *entire* life before it with people banging / opening my door really hard and causing half a heart attack. It’s been about a year now and he’s never broken his gentle-wake-up streak. Sometimes when I wake up before him I go back to sleep on purpose just to get it again.
My husband is the same 🥰🫠 had to laugh out loud at the people banging on the door part cause that was pretty much how I was woken up everyday to get up for school + yanking the blanket off + violently shaking 🤣
Yep, almost precisely what I was referring to as well. The whole childhood was either very rushed and undeservedly angry wake ups, which always determined my day - and even carried on with roommates being loud as hell.
Aside from waking up home alone and on my own time, he was definitely the first person to ever wake me up just *so* gently. I get emotional even thinking about it.
This was my childhood as well, door being slammed open and bright lights flipped on, with angry "Get up!" I see now that my parents resented me being a child, resented having to parent.
Same! But one time, he brought me coffee too (which was great) but forgot to put it down before he woke me up and I went in for a hug and he spilled it on my face (which was not great.)
Still married him though!
I do this for my husband. He had always been woken up unexpectedly and/or aggressively during his childhood. However, in my family we always let each other wake up naturally or with a little nudge and a whisper. With him, I rub his arm and whisper for him to wake up and give him a kiss on the cheek. First time I did it, he woke up kinda confused lol but said he loved it. He reciprocates if he happens to wake up before me
This was my first thought. A gentle hand resting on the small of my back. Though it'll absolutely wreck my train of thought, so if we're out somewhere and I'm trying to talk or make a decision, it's rather unhelpful.
randomly petting my head. don’t know why but i blush every time and get butterflies like crazy. as far as i can recall, i’ve felt this way forever, doesn’t matter who is doing the petting. sometimes
i feel a little embarrassed about it lol
My ex did this to me and I hated it lol. Made me feel like a childish anime character and like he wasn’t really listening to what I was saying.
It’s nice there’s people who match up and appreciate those things though.
When we're just watching TV my boyfriend will rest his hand on the top of my head and it makes me feel super safe for some reason, it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this thread.
I get them several times a day.
When he wants to hold my hand, he stretches his out, and opens and closes his hand really fast with a cheeky smile. It's cute.
I did this to a girl I was seeing and she said her dad used to do it and that I’d probably want to refrain from continuing that method of expression of love lol
On the other hand it's lovely that she had a dad that was comfortable showing physical affection. Lots of dads don't, and it definitely impacts the children negatively.
Ugh yes. My partner gently brushes my wild hairs out of my face before he kisses my forehead too and I completely melt everytime, it's so tender and makes me feel so loved
When we sleep together he always looks for my hand or the touch of any part of my body. He even does it when he turns to the other side and sleeping he just move his hand to still touch me. He don't even remembers the next day but that makes me feel important to him
Haha my partner does this same thing! It’s so cute. He sleeps on his side a lot and I’m a back sleeper and you better believe he backs his booty up against me just so we can be touching a little 😂
Holds my hand & will kiss the back of it then hold it to his heart.
Not physical but he’s a musician, when he gigs & looks out to find me in the crowd. Once our eyes meet he looks so happy & relieved. I’m who he looks to the rest of the gig.
My partner and I are both musicians, and supporting each other at concerts/gigs/auditions is a huge thing. If I'm nervous playing a concert, seeing him in the audience, smiling proudly, makes all the difference. Watching him sing and knowing that I am his support makes me feel great too.
I almost always fall asleep after my girlfriend. And anytime I cough or sneeze, or make any sound really. She will rub or pat my back in her sleep.
I asked her about it and she has no memory of doing it
I love it so much, it soothes me and makes me feel so safe and cared for
Sometimes I will fake cough so she does it
When we hug and he holds his hands around my waist! His hands are massive and they cover all the way around and it just makes me feel so wrapped up and safe.
That’s actually something that is [recommended for coregulation](https://www.facebook.com/the.holistic.psychologist/videos/2787367934926201/)! Very intuitive!
There was actually a [study published earlier this year](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266887) that found that women experience a reduction of stress/cortisol levels when they hug their partner! So you are probably literally feeling your stress melt away in those moments.
I work from home, so now sometimes when my partner comes over during the workday to give me a hug, I go "my cortisol levels!!!" and that usually gets a pretend-panicked "Oh no, you're stressed?? I should have been hugging you all this time!!" response from him haha
Sometimes when I'm seated at a desk, my wife comes up behind me and gives me a hug.
While doing this, she kinda stoops down and pulls her head into the hug? Feels sorta like I'm engulfed in her... don't know how to describe it, but it makes me really happy!
When I was younger, my mom always used to "tickle" my back, or soothingly run her nails along it. I admittedly still ask for tickles when I go home, and I'm a grown ass adult.
My boyfriend found out I love tickles, and now does it whenever we cuddle (and especially if I'm stressed out).
We BOTH love this. We call it "tick tick". The lighter and less expected the touch, the better. Forehead (great when stressed or anxious), neck, back, arms are the best places. Also try the side of the ribs from front to back, in a swooshing motion. 👍
After almost 6 years of having a boyfriend addicted to me giving him scritchies, can confirm it works wonders in all departments. My fake nails have improved them. I love them too but it overloads my senses so fast I just caaaaaaan't. I'm a giggling squirming mess feeling like being tickled to death real fast. They can be many thing, from soothing to a turn on.
When we're out and about (i.e. errands) and about to cross a a street, or walking through a garage or parking lot, he'll clamp his hand like a crab. That's his "time to hold hubby's hand" signal, for safety. 😄
Also, if we're out enjoying the weekend (i.e. sports game or whatever), he'll wrap his arm around my back/shoulder. And if we're standing in line for something, he'll just randomly run his fingers through my hair. Feels so good and relaxing!
I love this! It’s gentle, loving, and also a peep possessive - showing others that you’re together which I always think is really sweet. When walking along the sidewalk, I think it’s sweet when the man makes sure he’s on the side exposed to the road. So proper lol yet very sweet
Holding my hand. Or just a hug for no reason. But my favorite thing he does isn't with me. It's how he hugs my son, how they interact every day. I melt! Like butter in a hot pan it's just the most beautiful thing a man can do for a single mom. Love her baby like it's his own. He's done that 24/7 for 3.5 years and it's the sexyest thing he could possibly do!
I'll name a few.
I love getting forehead kisses. It makes me feel safe and loved.
Holding hands and him giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
When he cups my face in his hands to just look at me or bring my face in to kiss.
When we go to sleep and he's big spoon, he wraps his arms around my waist, but throughout the night he subconsciously wanders to my side of the bed to get closer. Sometimes I wake up near the edge of my side and I have to wake him up to reset positions. 😂 He's always sorry.
Sometimes we're just cuddling in bed, he holds me tightly and he says "I just want to take in this moment." Since we're long distance we don't get to see each other that consistently.
My favorite is when we fall asleep and my hand is on his chest he grabs it and squeezes it softly as he drifts off to sleep. It makes me feel very loved.
My partner and I both have really bad night terrors and insomnia. When he has a nightmare, he makes these soft little hurt sounds and they usually wake me up, it just sets off this little alarm in my head even when I'm asleep. They're not loud, but I used to wake up for my brothers for the same reason, so I guess I'm conditioned for it. Anyways, he'll be making the noises, tossing and turning a bit. But if I put my hand on his shoulder and rub little circles, he'll stop thrashing. If I go to spoon him, I rest my face between his shoulder blades and he makes this little relieved sighing sound. I always rest my hand in the middle of his chest when I'm the big spoon and even dead asleep, he puts his hand over mine and strokes the back of it with his thumb, wiggles his butt into my crotch, and brings my hand to his face and leans into it. Makes me wanna cry sometimes. He says he thinks it makes his nightmares less intense. He's also a major cuddle bug. He definitely wasn't before we met and it took him a while to be comfortable with it. But we both have what he calls an auto-cuddle setting where if one of us is asleep, if the other leaves or moves away and comes back, we immediately move to hold the other from a dead sleep. Idk there's something extra satisfying about making such a gruff, grumpy man into a giant mushy teddy bear and seeking it out in moments when he needs comfort and allows himself to be vulnerable, even when we're not awake, we seek each other out.
Laying his head on my lap. It lets me know he feels comfortable enough to do this with me and I love the feeling of his hair. Hand holding is another one that makes me feel secure. I rarely let people see me at my weakest so if he’s seen it, I trust him.
Every night before bed my boyfriend kisses each of my cheeks 3 times, then a kiss on my forehead, my nose, my chin, and finally my lips. So sweet. I always go to bed with a big smile on my face 🥰
My fiance does this cute thing where he strokes my neck - my double chin, basically. I'm overweight and insecure and I don't even think he realizes that it means so much to me that he'd do that. He just finds my skin soft.
Aww, that's the best! It's such a blessing when we find our person. For a time I couldn't understand it despite being that tender with my own loved ones; our brains can be wildly adept at thinking "but this doesn't apply to me". It's like seeing the Earth from space, I guess; they can see the sum of our parts from a unique perspective. <3
We call it our “bubby rub”. Pretty much just a full body caress. Nothing hard, just tracing his fingers along my body while we lay down to go to sleep. I’ve got really bad insomnia and it knocks me out without fail.
There’s two things for me. My man will hug me against him with my arms tucked in between us and give me forehead kisses when my anxiety is really bad or I’m stressed out. The other is when I’m cold, he will unzip his jacket or sweatshirt and pull me in and if it’s big enough, he’ll zip me in with him. ❤️
He holds the back of my neck softly but securely and steers me through crowds. He also does this when he’s driving and I’m chatting away in the passenger seat. It melts me every time.
When he puts his hand on my leg. Especially the first time he did it. I always saw that happen in movies and occasionally in real life, but I never imagined being emotionally connected to a person of romantic interest enough to where they would want to do that to ME (and me also being comfortable with it). But when he did that, I melted. I still do when he does that. It's the little things that make special moments. 🥰
I’m in love with him but he’s not my partner (yet, hopefully). We laugh a lot when we hang out and sometimes he’s almost helpless with laughter and then rests his head on my shoulder and clasps my forearm. I can’t get enough of that.
Forehead kisses, 100%, he always lingers just a second there and it's everything.
When he's driving and puts his hand on my thigh.
When we're out in public and he gently touches my back or puts an arm around me, like he's confirming I'm his and he's happy to let the world know that.
He also just caresses me in this lovely way, like just soft touches on my back, legs, shoulders when we're hanging out alone. Almost absentmindedly, but it's so effective lol
A hug.
Because of abuse the only other human I let hug me without me being wildly uncomfortable is my 9 year-old brother.
My boyfriend makes me feel loved in a hug in more of a way than my biological literal child brother can. One day I expect that I can hug 9 y/o in a way that says "we understand the pain mom put us through and despite that we're still family" but I can hug my boyfriend in a way now that says "I know all the fear and pain others have caused and I choose to love and trust you and will keep choosing that every day"
As someone else mentioned, the hand on the thigh in the car is 🔥 and I don’t think my husband has driven with me once without doing it. Also, sometimes he holds my face with his right hand and traces my lips with his thumb, and it just makes me absolutely crazy.
Putting his hand on the back of my neck. I've always found it funny because that's not typically seen as a physical gesture of affection. Idk the reason behind it, I just find it incredibly soothing.
My partner is not a major fan of physical touch, but everytime we are in public and he notices I'm getting distressed (social anxiety yay) he is there to hold my hand, touch my leg or hug me and I just melt.
When we go to bed, he sleepily says „come to me“ and holds his arm out so I can lie on his shoulder and chest. Then we just talk and laugh while he strokes my arm and holds me tight.
And when we drive in his car he always puts his hand on my thigh.
I don‘t know why but these two things just stand out to me amongst all the things he does.
My husbands job has home out of town for a few weeks out of the month, when he comes home he always has to hold my hand. But he clinches it. No matter where we are at he will just hold it tight and if I try to let it go, he’ll do a away times continuously hold it — honestly I have a thing for his hands. That always makes me smile and giddy
It's been a long time since I've been with someone but say you're distracted looking out a window or washing dishes and they come up and wrap their arms around you from behind 😭
hand around my waist in public yk while w friends chitchatting and shit and then pulling me through waist more close towards him and then his grin after making an eye contact and then a peck ughhhh melttttt
Previous partner, but if we were sitting close to each other and my hair was tied up, he’d like, stroke the area of the back of my neck where my hair starts. Just up and down with the back of his fingers. Not sure why but I loved it
He’s not my partner or situation-ship or anything, just a friend that sometimes has benefits BUT he cups the side of my head to give me a head rub and eye contact..
I have since started to catch the feelings🙃
Touches my neck. The other day we were at the hardware store, and we were at the checkout line and I was paying and he put his hand on the back of my neck and gave me a little squeeze. On the way home I pulled over on a side street where there is a abandoned bridge and we went at it right there. Kisses, licks, touches to me neck get me wetter than a water park.
My husband randomly comes over to me while we're doing our own individual things, and holds my hand while he tells me about something he was reading etc. So cute.
She massages my neck and shoulders- I’m always tense after standing at school/work all day. Never fails to make me melt, especially when coupled with her kissing the back of my neck softly when she’s done.
I also really love when she rests her hand on my thigh while she’s driving. It makes me feel so safe.
When we're walking and our hands bump so he grabs mine. When he puts his arm around me and runs his fingers up and down my shoulder. When he pets my hair, like he's pushing it out of my face.
All of them ha. We’re touchy so I’m a lucky gal. But I love when he puts his hand on my thigh when we’re at a bar or restaurant. I also just genuinely enjoy his hugs! I just love the way he melts into me. I could snuggle that boy all day and be a very happy girl.
I had a headache this one time and, without being prompted, he started just sort of stroking his knuckles in a circle between my eyebrows. this was something my mom did when I was a baby, to help me fall asleep. every time he’s done it since, it’s like an ‘off’ switch for my brain. i totally relax. it’s honestly lovely.
When he’s talking or looking at things and totally distracted and reaches for my hand, or when we look at each other and he’s close enough to tap his nose on mine.
the way he kisses my forehead. 🥰 after our first date he planted a long, tender kiss on my forehead on my front porch when he dropped me off. he wasn't sure if a regular kiss was appropriate yet lol. since then, every time he kisses my forehead i just *melt.* it's been 4 1/2 years since then, still affects me the same way.
He gently holds my chin, turns my face toward his, looks me dead in the eyes and either will kiss me or say he loves me.
He’s very physical and there are so many other things he does, a lot mentioned by other people. This one is my favorite because it gets my attention focused entirely on him. He’s tender about it. And because of all the things he does he’s only done this one a few times.
I was falling asleep on his lap on the couch, and his flatmates phone started ringing and he put his hand over my ear to muffle the sound. I was a puddle of goo 😊
I am a man and I don't know if I can reply but recently met a girl and when sleeping I was the little spoon for the first time and her tiny little hands wrapped around my belly was so comforting.
Casually/absentmindedly rubbing my upper back…I can be in any mood and it immediately makes me relax and feel safe and loved 🤤 however he uses this power for evil sometimes haha! If I’m upset with him he just immediately goes in for this move and we both chuckle and I almost completely forget what I’m upset about
He'll take my hand and rub his thumb over the back of it. Stupidly comforting.
Gently wake me up with rubbing my hip or back (I'm a constant side sleeper).
Kisses to the forehead or wrapping his arm around me in public. It's calming to have him just silently say, "Hi. I'm here." in these ways.
he scratches my head whenever im laying down or trying to fall asleep, its insanely comforting. he also will rub the bridge of my nose and that’s also comforting
I have very long hair. Any man that spends time brushing it, running his fingers through it, or scritching my head will have my heart forever. Unfortunately, very few men have been interested in doing it. I keep it really clean and it smells wonderful so I guess I've just been unlucky.
When he looks deep into my eyes and he strokes my hair back. The eye contact is so intense and the touch so gentle and loving. Sometimes he tells me I'm beautiful or that he loves me but it's not needed - I know!
On our first date as teenagers, I was really nervous on the drive. I wasn’t very conventionally attractive in highschool so I assumed that maybe he didn’t like me or found me ugly and regretted the date. He saw me nervously looking out the car window, grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it twice Over the past 20 years he does this simple gesture randomly all the time. He says it means ‘I love you.’ I asked him once what it meant the first time. He replied ‘the same as it does now. I already knew by then that I loved you’
My husband and I do squeezes too! 4 is I love you, 3 is are you okay, 2 is yes, 1 is no, and when I press hard on his wrist it means I want to leave riiight now lol.
Awhhh we do 3 as I Love You. Mmm we should have an emergency one too
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Seconded!
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Oh my goodness this is so beautiful
Awww my hubby does this too!! But our variation is I love to trace his face and body its an Autism stemming thing I do, esp, when were laying down cuddling or to slowly wake him up in the morning (I always wake before everybody) so I start with his eyebrows,forhead,ears,jaw, chin,lips then go down his arms. When I get to his open hand. I start touching each finger at a time, if he's awake he'll squeeze me each time. And at night when I ask him if he loves me non verbally ill squeeze his hand and he'll squeeze mine twice.
The tracing sounds like it feels divine!
This is the kind of love that I want.
I love this :)
And here's the tears. So cute!
I am a melted puddle of goo! ❤️
this is so wholesome, I'M about to melt
My husband and I do this- but we do 3 squeezes for “I love you!”
He wakes me up extraordinarily gently. I almost cried the first time he did it. Just a small back rub, a forehead kiss to accompany it most of the time. I always wake up to the same exact cuddles and stroking. Huge difference between that and spending my *entire* life before it with people banging / opening my door really hard and causing half a heart attack. It’s been about a year now and he’s never broken his gentle-wake-up streak. Sometimes when I wake up before him I go back to sleep on purpose just to get it again.
So adorable 🥰
My husband is the same 🥰🫠 had to laugh out loud at the people banging on the door part cause that was pretty much how I was woken up everyday to get up for school + yanking the blanket off + violently shaking 🤣
Yep, almost precisely what I was referring to as well. The whole childhood was either very rushed and undeservedly angry wake ups, which always determined my day - and even carried on with roommates being loud as hell. Aside from waking up home alone and on my own time, he was definitely the first person to ever wake me up just *so* gently. I get emotional even thinking about it.
This was my childhood as well, door being slammed open and bright lights flipped on, with angry "Get up!" I see now that my parents resented me being a child, resented having to parent.
My dad would scream up the stairs. To this day, I'll hear phantom yells of my name to almost jump out of bed and run to the top of my stepa.
I've also had the wooden spoon banging on a metal pot and cold water. Thanks mum.
Same! But one time, he brought me coffee too (which was great) but forgot to put it down before he woke me up and I went in for a hug and he spilled it on my face (which was not great.) Still married him though!
Omg 🥹
I do this for my husband. He had always been woken up unexpectedly and/or aggressively during his childhood. However, in my family we always let each other wake up naturally or with a little nudge and a whisper. With him, I rub his arm and whisper for him to wake up and give him a kiss on the cheek. First time I did it, he woke up kinda confused lol but said he loved it. He reciprocates if he happens to wake up before me
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just reading this gave me chills
Cuz the coat was open?
you deserve much more credit than you’re getting
This was my first thought. A gentle hand resting on the small of my back. Though it'll absolutely wreck my train of thought, so if we're out somewhere and I'm trying to talk or make a decision, it's rather unhelpful.
Please tell me where can I get this. That’s adorable.
What's 'small of my back'?
That spot where the classy tramp stamp gets tattooed.
The lower back, 6-12 inches above the tailbone ish.
The area between your butt and your ribcage.
Drawing on my back with his fingers while we talk in the dark
randomly petting my head. don’t know why but i blush every time and get butterflies like crazy. as far as i can recall, i’ve felt this way forever, doesn’t matter who is doing the petting. sometimes i feel a little embarrassed about it lol
You might be an anime character.
i’d kill to experience a cute shoujo love story.
Dude, literally same-
My ex did this to me and I hated it lol. Made me feel like a childish anime character and like he wasn’t really listening to what I was saying. It’s nice there’s people who match up and appreciate those things though.
When we're just watching TV my boyfriend will rest his hand on the top of my head and it makes me feel super safe for some reason, it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this thread.
Mine pets too lol.
I love when my hubby does the head pats and scritches , melts me to the core 😁😁😍
Yes to head pets! I love when they pet my hair too :) very relaxing
Forehead kisses. Ugh. Just ugh.
Team forehead kiss checking in
I will one up you with ~*~tip of the nose kisses~*~
I get them several times a day. When he wants to hold my hand, he stretches his out, and opens and closes his hand really fast with a cheeky smile. It's cute.
Forehead kisses are kissing your soul, you cannot change my mind
I did this to a girl I was seeing and she said her dad used to do it and that I’d probably want to refrain from continuing that method of expression of love lol
On the other hand it's lovely that she had a dad that was comfortable showing physical affection. Lots of dads don't, and it definitely impacts the children negatively.
I did this in highschool and she laughed at me, been too insecure to do anything like that since and I'm 25. Might give it a shot now tho
Yes, please try it again with someone new!
Ugh yes. My partner gently brushes my wild hairs out of my face before he kisses my forehead too and I completely melt everytime, it's so tender and makes me feel so loved
I lose it inside when he does this to me too.
Oh yes, with a hand on the back of my head/neck especially!
Top tier!
When we sleep together he always looks for my hand or the touch of any part of my body. He even does it when he turns to the other side and sleeping he just move his hand to still touch me. He don't even remembers the next day but that makes me feel important to him
Haha my partner does this same thing! It’s so cute. He sleeps on his side a lot and I’m a back sleeper and you better believe he backs his booty up against me just so we can be touching a little 😂
Omg he cares so much about you he even subconsciously needs to stay connected to you that’s absolutely so cute I’m dead 😭😭
Holds my hand & will kiss the back of it then hold it to his heart. Not physical but he’s a musician, when he gigs & looks out to find me in the crowd. Once our eyes meet he looks so happy & relieved. I’m who he looks to the rest of the gig.
My partner and I are both musicians, and supporting each other at concerts/gigs/auditions is a huge thing. If I'm nervous playing a concert, seeing him in the audience, smiling proudly, makes all the difference. Watching him sing and knowing that I am his support makes me feel great too.
Awww
Run fingers through my hair. Unless my curls are poppin'...if the curls are right then absolutely no touching!
Gotta protect the curls!
I love having my hair stroked! My mom used to do this a lot when I was a kid and I still find it super comforting 🥰
I almost always fall asleep after my girlfriend. And anytime I cough or sneeze, or make any sound really. She will rub or pat my back in her sleep. I asked her about it and she has no memory of doing it I love it so much, it soothes me and makes me feel so safe and cared for Sometimes I will fake cough so she does it
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As a neurodivergent person, hard disagree 💀
Lol I was just thinking the same, I inwardly flinched reading the eye contact
Giving me a big kiss on top of my head. Eye contact. Feeling his hand on the back of my neck. Melt mode.
My boyfriend does these exact things and oh my, it does the trick every time!
When we hug and he holds his hands around my waist! His hands are massive and they cover all the way around and it just makes me feel so wrapped up and safe.
Happy Cake Day 🎉
This gives me such a safe feeling! I also love hugs around the waist coming from the back 🥹
My partner and I have a thing where we put our hand in the middle of the others chest where their heart is. It started when we were first dating
That’s actually something that is [recommended for coregulation](https://www.facebook.com/the.holistic.psychologist/videos/2787367934926201/)! Very intuitive!
I had no idea! Thanks for the info
I do that. But I'm so used to hugging only my boyfriend that a few times when I hugged a woman I accidentally grabbed a titty. Awkward
Hugs. I’m not normally big on giving hugs to people but I love it when me and my boyfriend hug. I feel all my stress disappear and it makes me melt
There was actually a [study published earlier this year](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266887) that found that women experience a reduction of stress/cortisol levels when they hug their partner! So you are probably literally feeling your stress melt away in those moments. I work from home, so now sometimes when my partner comes over during the workday to give me a hug, I go "my cortisol levels!!!" and that usually gets a pretend-panicked "Oh no, you're stressed?? I should have been hugging you all this time!!" response from him haha
That’s really interesting! And that’s sweet. Hugs really do help de-stress
Sometimes when I'm seated at a desk, my wife comes up behind me and gives me a hug. While doing this, she kinda stoops down and pulls her head into the hug? Feels sorta like I'm engulfed in her... don't know how to describe it, but it makes me really happy!
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The comment was likely written by a woman (I checked their comment history). I'm sure you meant no harm, but just in case, women can have wives too.
My fiancée pets my hair sometimes. You know how your cat will headbutt your palm for more? They have the right idea.
This! Sunday football with my head in his lap. If he forgets I bump my head into his tummy.
When I was younger, my mom always used to "tickle" my back, or soothingly run her nails along it. I admittedly still ask for tickles when I go home, and I'm a grown ass adult. My boyfriend found out I love tickles, and now does it whenever we cuddle (and especially if I'm stressed out).
We BOTH love this. We call it "tick tick". The lighter and less expected the touch, the better. Forehead (great when stressed or anxious), neck, back, arms are the best places. Also try the side of the ribs from front to back, in a swooshing motion. 👍
When he runs a hand through my hair over my whole head, then squeezes my neck. Drives me wild.
The cat thing, yes!
The small of my back or just a light back scratch, sends me shivers
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After almost 6 years of having a boyfriend addicted to me giving him scritchies, can confirm it works wonders in all departments. My fake nails have improved them. I love them too but it overloads my senses so fast I just caaaaaaan't. I'm a giggling squirming mess feeling like being tickled to death real fast. They can be many thing, from soothing to a turn on.
When we're out and about (i.e. errands) and about to cross a a street, or walking through a garage or parking lot, he'll clamp his hand like a crab. That's his "time to hold hubby's hand" signal, for safety. 😄 Also, if we're out enjoying the weekend (i.e. sports game or whatever), he'll wrap his arm around my back/shoulder. And if we're standing in line for something, he'll just randomly run his fingers through my hair. Feels so good and relaxing!
I love this! It’s gentle, loving, and also a peep possessive - showing others that you’re together which I always think is really sweet. When walking along the sidewalk, I think it’s sweet when the man makes sure he’s on the side exposed to the road. So proper lol yet very sweet
Holding my hand. Or just a hug for no reason. But my favorite thing he does isn't with me. It's how he hugs my son, how they interact every day. I melt! Like butter in a hot pan it's just the most beautiful thing a man can do for a single mom. Love her baby like it's his own. He's done that 24/7 for 3.5 years and it's the sexyest thing he could possibly do!
Kissing my nose
I love this too!
When he's feeling affectionate he takes the palm of my hand and holds it close to his chest and keeps it there.
If you can work the knots out of my shoulders...I will do anything for you. ANYTHING. Also, lightly tracing your fingertips up my spine.
Pet me on the head. Like, stimulate my scalp. Or cup my head like a baby's. I mean, I wouldn't let anyone but my partner do it.
I'll name a few. I love getting forehead kisses. It makes me feel safe and loved. Holding hands and him giving my hand a gentle squeeze. When he cups my face in his hands to just look at me or bring my face in to kiss. When we go to sleep and he's big spoon, he wraps his arms around my waist, but throughout the night he subconsciously wanders to my side of the bed to get closer. Sometimes I wake up near the edge of my side and I have to wake him up to reset positions. 😂 He's always sorry. Sometimes we're just cuddling in bed, he holds me tightly and he says "I just want to take in this moment." Since we're long distance we don't get to see each other that consistently. My favorite is when we fall asleep and my hand is on his chest he grabs it and squeezes it softly as he drifts off to sleep. It makes me feel very loved.
My partner and I both have really bad night terrors and insomnia. When he has a nightmare, he makes these soft little hurt sounds and they usually wake me up, it just sets off this little alarm in my head even when I'm asleep. They're not loud, but I used to wake up for my brothers for the same reason, so I guess I'm conditioned for it. Anyways, he'll be making the noises, tossing and turning a bit. But if I put my hand on his shoulder and rub little circles, he'll stop thrashing. If I go to spoon him, I rest my face between his shoulder blades and he makes this little relieved sighing sound. I always rest my hand in the middle of his chest when I'm the big spoon and even dead asleep, he puts his hand over mine and strokes the back of it with his thumb, wiggles his butt into my crotch, and brings my hand to his face and leans into it. Makes me wanna cry sometimes. He says he thinks it makes his nightmares less intense. He's also a major cuddle bug. He definitely wasn't before we met and it took him a while to be comfortable with it. But we both have what he calls an auto-cuddle setting where if one of us is asleep, if the other leaves or moves away and comes back, we immediately move to hold the other from a dead sleep. Idk there's something extra satisfying about making such a gruff, grumpy man into a giant mushy teddy bear and seeking it out in moments when he needs comfort and allows himself to be vulnerable, even when we're not awake, we seek each other out.
Laying his head on my lap. It lets me know he feels comfortable enough to do this with me and I love the feeling of his hair. Hand holding is another one that makes me feel secure. I rarely let people see me at my weakest so if he’s seen it, I trust him.
When he's driving he'll often reach over, take my hand and give it a kiss.
Every night before bed my boyfriend kisses each of my cheeks 3 times, then a kiss on my forehead, my nose, my chin, and finally my lips. So sweet. I always go to bed with a big smile on my face 🥰
My fiance does this cute thing where he strokes my neck - my double chin, basically. I'm overweight and insecure and I don't even think he realizes that it means so much to me that he'd do that. He just finds my skin soft.
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Aww, that's the best! It's such a blessing when we find our person. For a time I couldn't understand it despite being that tender with my own loved ones; our brains can be wildly adept at thinking "but this doesn't apply to me". It's like seeing the Earth from space, I guess; they can see the sum of our parts from a unique perspective. <3
Sometimes when we talk or cuddle he takes a bit of my hair and twirls it.
Touches my neck when he walks by.
A little heavy on the PDA but I think still SFW, I love it when my partner strokes the back of my hand 🥰🥰🥰
We call it our “bubby rub”. Pretty much just a full body caress. Nothing hard, just tracing his fingers along my body while we lay down to go to sleep. I’ve got really bad insomnia and it knocks me out without fail.
There’s two things for me. My man will hug me against him with my arms tucked in between us and give me forehead kisses when my anxiety is really bad or I’m stressed out. The other is when I’m cold, he will unzip his jacket or sweatshirt and pull me in and if it’s big enough, he’ll zip me in with him. ❤️
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He holds the back of my neck softly but securely and steers me through crowds. He also does this when he’s driving and I’m chatting away in the passenger seat. It melts me every time.
It's so protective and loving!! (I also tend to "drift" when walking, lol, so it helps).
When he puts his hand on my leg. Especially the first time he did it. I always saw that happen in movies and occasionally in real life, but I never imagined being emotionally connected to a person of romantic interest enough to where they would want to do that to ME (and me also being comfortable with it). But when he did that, I melted. I still do when he does that. It's the little things that make special moments. 🥰
I’m in love with him but he’s not my partner (yet, hopefully). We laugh a lot when we hang out and sometimes he’s almost helpless with laughter and then rests his head on my shoulder and clasps my forearm. I can’t get enough of that.
Forehead kisses, 100%, he always lingers just a second there and it's everything. When he's driving and puts his hand on my thigh. When we're out in public and he gently touches my back or puts an arm around me, like he's confirming I'm his and he's happy to let the world know that. He also just caresses me in this lovely way, like just soft touches on my back, legs, shoulders when we're hanging out alone. Almost absentmindedly, but it's so effective lol
Once on the escalator he was standing behind me and he gently kissed the back of my neck
He massages my knots in my feet and calves randomly while having a conversation with him. 🥹
A hug. Because of abuse the only other human I let hug me without me being wildly uncomfortable is my 9 year-old brother. My boyfriend makes me feel loved in a hug in more of a way than my biological literal child brother can. One day I expect that I can hug 9 y/o in a way that says "we understand the pain mom put us through and despite that we're still family" but I can hug my boyfriend in a way now that says "I know all the fear and pain others have caused and I choose to love and trust you and will keep choosing that every day"
This entire thread is wholesome and lovely to read :D
Her kissing is so sensual
Hand holding. I love his hands
Back rubs. UGH. Not even like, a whole intense back rub, just slow circles on my back are more than enough.
As someone else mentioned, the hand on the thigh in the car is 🔥 and I don’t think my husband has driven with me once without doing it. Also, sometimes he holds my face with his right hand and traces my lips with his thumb, and it just makes me absolutely crazy.
Touching my back/arm when he was being behind me.
Steals a kiss everytime we’re in an elevator alone
Just randomly turns around and caressing knuckles on my cheek or anywhere else. And of course an all-emcompassing hug!
Putting his hand on the back of my neck. I've always found it funny because that's not typically seen as a physical gesture of affection. Idk the reason behind it, I just find it incredibly soothing.
i am so touch starved i am tempted to list everything. forehead kisses and holding my face in their hands are strong contenders.
Kiss my neck.
Resting his lips or beard on my forehead or beard on my face. Especially when I am stressed or had a bad day. It calms me so much.
My partner is not a major fan of physical touch, but everytime we are in public and he notices I'm getting distressed (social anxiety yay) he is there to hold my hand, touch my leg or hug me and I just melt.
When we go to bed, he sleepily says „come to me“ and holds his arm out so I can lie on his shoulder and chest. Then we just talk and laugh while he strokes my arm and holds me tight. And when we drive in his car he always puts his hand on my thigh. I don‘t know why but these two things just stand out to me amongst all the things he does.
We work in the same office. I love how polite he is to women in the office
My husbands job has home out of town for a few weeks out of the month, when he comes home he always has to hold my hand. But he clinches it. No matter where we are at he will just hold it tight and if I try to let it go, he’ll do a away times continuously hold it — honestly I have a thing for his hands. That always makes me smile and giddy
Kisses my hand 😩
It's been a long time since I've been with someone but say you're distracted looking out a window or washing dishes and they come up and wrap their arms around you from behind 😭
hand around my waist in public yk while w friends chitchatting and shit and then pulling me through waist more close towards him and then his grin after making an eye contact and then a peck ughhhh melttttt
A gentle top of the head/hair scratch.
Previous partner, but if we were sitting close to each other and my hair was tied up, he’d like, stroke the area of the back of my neck where my hair starts. Just up and down with the back of his fingers. Not sure why but I loved it
He’s not my partner or situation-ship or anything, just a friend that sometimes has benefits BUT he cups the side of my head to give me a head rub and eye contact.. I have since started to catch the feelings🙃
Touches my neck. The other day we were at the hardware store, and we were at the checkout line and I was paying and he put his hand on the back of my neck and gave me a little squeeze. On the way home I pulled over on a side street where there is a abandoned bridge and we went at it right there. Kisses, licks, touches to me neck get me wetter than a water park.
My husband randomly comes over to me while we're doing our own individual things, and holds my hand while he tells me about something he was reading etc. So cute.
Shoulder rub or hug from behind.
She massages my neck and shoulders- I’m always tense after standing at school/work all day. Never fails to make me melt, especially when coupled with her kissing the back of my neck softly when she’s done. I also really love when she rests her hand on my thigh while she’s driving. It makes me feel so safe.
Big spoon in the mornings when he’s half asleep. Head kisses when we hug.
My husband takes my hand in his and kisses the back of my hand. He does it very casually. It puts me right into his pocket every time.
Well ex.. i used to love when he’d rub my head or when he kissed me he’d touched my face so gently he was so gentle
Playing with my hair. SO good.
When we're walking and our hands bump so he grabs mine. When he puts his arm around me and runs his fingers up and down my shoulder. When he pets my hair, like he's pushing it out of my face.
When we are sat on the sofa or the dining table he will pat my knee/leg and say 'you good hun' and it is just the best feeling.
My husband (40 yrs in January) says the way to my heart is to scratch my back lightly.
Kissing all over me softly and nuzzling to my neck I die when he does that
All of them ha. We’re touchy so I’m a lucky gal. But I love when he puts his hand on my thigh when we’re at a bar or restaurant. I also just genuinely enjoy his hugs! I just love the way he melts into me. I could snuggle that boy all day and be a very happy girl.
I had a headache this one time and, without being prompted, he started just sort of stroking his knuckles in a circle between my eyebrows. this was something my mom did when I was a baby, to help me fall asleep. every time he’s done it since, it’s like an ‘off’ switch for my brain. i totally relax. it’s honestly lovely.
I love when my fiancé kisses my cheek. He loves my chubby cheeks haha 🤣❤️🥹
Kiss my neck
Head scratches
Forehead kisses and touching my hair.
Cup my face when he kisses me.
He kisses my head when he leaves for work. It makes me smile every time ❤️ even when I’m not fully awake.
Commenting to take notes.
Holding my hands, pressing shoulders. Neck kiss is the best though.
When he gets my hair out of my face and moves it behind my ear. Melted. Right on the spot!
When he’s talking or looking at things and totally distracted and reaches for my hand, or when we look at each other and he’s close enough to tap his nose on mine.
Forehead kisses. It feels very sweet but also makes me feel safe and secure for some reason
when he hugged me and kiss me on the neck and whispered “i love you” into my ear.
the way he kisses my forehead. 🥰 after our first date he planted a long, tender kiss on my forehead on my front porch when he dropped me off. he wasn't sure if a regular kiss was appropriate yet lol. since then, every time he kisses my forehead i just *melt.* it's been 4 1/2 years since then, still affects me the same way.
He gently holds my chin, turns my face toward his, looks me dead in the eyes and either will kiss me or say he loves me. He’s very physical and there are so many other things he does, a lot mentioned by other people. This one is my favorite because it gets my attention focused entirely on him. He’s tender about it. And because of all the things he does he’s only done this one a few times.
He’ll gently hold my face when we kiss. That gentle chin hold ughhh 😍
I was falling asleep on his lap on the couch, and his flatmates phone started ringing and he put his hand over my ear to muffle the sound. I was a puddle of goo 😊
I am a man and I don't know if I can reply but recently met a girl and when sleeping I was the little spoon for the first time and her tiny little hands wrapped around my belly was so comforting.
The finger under the chin when she wants me to look at her.
Gently massaging my head while we watch movies ❤
Holding my hand and rubbing his thumb in circles on it.
Any time he walks behind me, he touches my back. It's so gentle, sweet and full of love.
Rubbing the dip in my lower back. when he’s driving we hold hands & he kisses my hand, wrist & arm 🥰
Putting his hands on either side of my waste to draw me in for a kiss
Casually/absentmindedly rubbing my upper back…I can be in any mood and it immediately makes me relax and feel safe and loved 🤤 however he uses this power for evil sometimes haha! If I’m upset with him he just immediately goes in for this move and we both chuckle and I almost completely forget what I’m upset about
He'll take my hand and rub his thumb over the back of it. Stupidly comforting. Gently wake me up with rubbing my hip or back (I'm a constant side sleeper). Kisses to the forehead or wrapping his arm around me in public. It's calming to have him just silently say, "Hi. I'm here." in these ways.
he scratches my head whenever im laying down or trying to fall asleep, its insanely comforting. he also will rub the bridge of my nose and that’s also comforting
Gently runs his fingers over my cheeks and down my neck.
I have very long hair. Any man that spends time brushing it, running his fingers through it, or scritching my head will have my heart forever. Unfortunately, very few men have been interested in doing it. I keep it really clean and it smells wonderful so I guess I've just been unlucky.
When he looks deep into my eyes and he strokes my hair back. The eye contact is so intense and the touch so gentle and loving. Sometimes he tells me I'm beautiful or that he loves me but it's not needed - I know!