The Caress of the Tides: a kneeling embrace, face to face

Instead of thrusting, you move your hips in slow circles while staying embraced.

Same kneeling embrace, but the movement changes: instead of going back and forth, both of you draw slow circles with your hips. Penetration stays shallow and the pelvises keep rubbing against each other, which some couples find more sensual than thrusting.

1. Settle into the basic position: he kneels upright, she kneels in a lunge astride his thigh.
2. Hold each other closely, her arms around his neck and his hands on her back.
3. Start drawing small circles with your hips, in the same direction.
4. Change the direction or size of the circles as you both prefer.

She brings the other leg forward to change the angle and rest her hips.

She swaps the leg she has forward: the knee that was on the bed now steps forward and the other goes down. The position stays the same, but the angle between the pelvises shifts slightly and the load moves to the other knee and hip, which helps if you want to stay longer.

1. From the basic position, pause and hold each other firmly.
2. She lowers her front knee onto the bed.
3. She steps the other leg forward, placing the foot flat behind him.
4. Resume the movement slowly and notice how the angle has changed.

Both kneel on cushions to protect the knees and even out the height.

The posture is identical, but you place cushions or a folded blanket under the knees resting on the bed. The knees suffer less and, if one partner is taller, a thicker cushion under the shorter partner's knee lines up your pelvises without either of you straining.

1. Put a cushion under his knees and another under her back knee.
2. Take up the basic position, embraced face to face.
3. Adjust the thickness of the cushions until your pelvises line up.
4. Move gently and change cushions if one knee starts to ache.