What are some creative and fun ways as a guy to go from breaking the touch barrier to a first kiss with a girl? Obviously, this is only once you know the connection is there and interest is mutual.
TL;DR: I (American, 34M) felt a connection with someone (French, 33F) extremely beautiful, shy and light spoken at a bar, and didn’t know how to escalate past light physical connection when they were showing signs that they were extremely interested. Keep in mind the international aspect. Looking for advice on what I could have done better, when I could’ve done it, and good lines or moves for initiating that deeper, physical connection.
Recently I (American, 34M) went on a solo trip for a work conference that has a large international attendance. For the rest of this story, keep in consideration of the respective nationalities.
On the second day, I made friends with quite a few people and after the events of the conference for that day, we all headed out for drinks. We started at a packed hotel lobby, and all of us were talking, drinking, and having a good time. I met her (French, 33F) for the first time while in line grabbing a drink at the bar.
I said hello, we talked very briefly, and I was able to elicit a few smiles. She was low spoken, but engaged in conversation. We cheers-ed and after which we went back to our respective groups.
Not long after, she makes her over to our group and joins in conversation. She flashes me a quick smile and starts making conversation with others in the group. Eventually I make my way over to her and continue having a conversation. I would not say it was “immediate connection” conversation and was not necessarily “natural”, but still having good conversation. That lasted a short while, and went back to having conversations with the rest of the group, but she stayed with our group for the rest of the night. I’ll remind you, most of us just met each other that day.
Eventually, it was closing time at the hotel bar and we made our way to one of the only other bars in the area, which was a small dive bar, to which we walked. As we walked, I ran into her again and made more small conversation, this time walking closer to each other and making to brush arms slightly. Once again, that was short lived and made our way talking to other people on the walk. We made it to the bar around midnight.
At the bar, is where the connection started to grow, albeit via surface level small talk. As we talked, slight brushes from my hand on her arm and shoulders and leaning in closer to talk to each other, to which she did not back away from. We still had our friend group there, so we were talking to them as well, but this time she stayed close to me. I even had a wingman who put in a good word for me while I stepped away.
Fast forward to closing time at the bar, we were still just at the light touch phase, although she wasn’t initiating any of it, but not backing away and staying by me. Our friend group was leaving, and she turns to me and tells me she wants me to stay with her, to which I did. We left the bar and started walking back to our respective hotels in the same direction.
On the walk back we stayed next to each other making small conversation back and forth, but she was still very quiet. As we get reach her hotel, the people that we walked with were aware of “us” and continued to walk and leave us to bid adieu. We hug, and say a few goodbyes, great to meet you. We step back, and she hugs me again, some more goodbyes, steps back again. After that one, I ask her for her number, and she gives me that and her socials. Then, she hugs me a THIRD time, more goodbyes and backs away for the final time. By this time it’s all clicking and I know what’s going on, but I couldn’t make a physical move and she walks towards her hotel looking back at me smiling as I smile back and continue on to my hotel knowing damn well the opportunity was lost.
I am well aware at this point that the connection was there, and could’ve been more but I just didn’t know how to make the next physical move. Now to the point of this post, I need advice or suggestions on how you would’ve approached it. Should I have acted earlier in the night? Was it still acceptable to act on it as we were parting?What’s a good line/move to initiate deeper physical connection?
Thank you all for reading this and your advice!