EDGE Boston

There are certain parts of the body one never forgets. If you get an above average partner, you may find a few surprise locations when making out. One of my personal favorite of locations is one that is far too often forgotten or, Bette Midler forbid, handled poorly.

This is the neck. Beyond my affinity for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I just can’t get enough of necking. Now by necking, I must specify the area this entails as I consider necking the practice of more so than the location. Necking includes obviously, the neck, by also the ears (oh yes, the ears) and the torso just below the neck, especially the back. This can be a very sizeable area for use throughout the second date (am I too optimistic?).

First things first. On that second (or first) date, wear a button down shirt (this trick will also work on farther dates that, well, go farther). With a button down shirt, you can unbutton buttons as needed. If you want more space around the collar bone, then just go down to three buttons. At this point I don’t think you need to worry about looking slutty. Also, avoid strong colognes and perfumes. As nice as these may smell, they never taste as good and limit how much exploring your partner’s tongue will do.

Okay, so now you’re at the movie theater, park bench, or living room couch with some scented candles burning and Andre Bochelli playing (to make you sound cultured, but the first CD, of course). You made out on the elevator, your lips are already sorta chapping, but now it’s time to get things going. As important as kissing is, necking separates the toys from the real boys.
Necking does not have to come after kissing, occasionally start with necking first. Either way, start off slow. Start with a nice taunt, breathing hard on the neck from your throat so you let out lots of warm, moist air. Move into one of two tactics. You can place hard pressure with a stiff tongue, running the very tip of your tongue through the pressure points on the neck or start with very light kisses that move into the hard tongue.

Navigating the neck can be simple, but takes practice feeling the different grooves. Use the center, Adam’s apple area as your so-called Rome. On men, this can be very sensitive. On both sides of the center are softer vertical lines starting at the grove where you would feel for someone’s pulse. This applies to all pressure points. A lot of pressure hurts, but a medium level of pressure stimules. This pattern continues with vertical lines of hard and soft under the neck’s surface. The softer areas are often the most sensitive.

Run the stiff tip of your tongue up and down the grove next the Adam’s apple, then follow the harder line working your way to the side. Move back and forth at varying speeds. To further change things up (changing things up is where the fun really happens) mix up the hard tongue with hickie causing sucks, targeting specifically those extra deep pressure points.

For a different pressure, run the very tips of your top teeth over your partner’s skin. Even light biting can be tolerated by the most sensitive when so stimulated. Also, make sure your tongue is extra wet, nearly slobbering on your partner’s neck. If you’re doing things right, you’re partner won’t care. Create a line of slobber and then run over it again with a deep breath of deep, hot air. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it.

I like to work my way up the side to the ear. Ears appear more of an acquired taste, but when they work, they work. Keep the hard tongue (I’m a fan, what can I say) and outline the ear. If you’re up for it (some people find this ewwy), stick your tongue actually inside the ear. Finish things up by, if possible, taking the entire ear in your mouth. You can also try the tips of the teeth and blowing tactics like on the neck.

Now do not forget the back of the neck. This can be a difficult location depending on circumstances, but make it happen. I don’t know if it’s the rarity or pure nerves, but I get goose bumps at the faintest touch back their. Certainly you’ll catch your partner by surprise which is certain to up their heart rate by an impressive rate.