When I was 19, I’d mostly experienced brief, impersonal encounters. But he was different. We met on Tinder, and I invited him over. He took his time, starting with nearly 20 minutes of gentle, attentive foreplay that left me completely drawn in. When we finally came together, he was unhurried, deeply present, and endlessly tender.

He held me close, kissing me all over, making me feel cherished and connected. At one point, as we lay together, he held my hand, moving slowly, and I was overwhelmed. It was some of the most profound intimacy I’d ever felt, and, for the first time, I felt both loved and deeply seen in such a vulnerable moment.