Sex can be a great way to reconnect with your partner, or cement a growing bond in a new romance. Some couples are happy with the occasional mutually-satisfying quickie, or a regularly-scheduled weekend session that relies on the same ol’ reliable positions to get the job done. (The “job” means an orgasm, in case that wasn’t clear.)

Like all types of consensual sex, a routine that works is A-OK. Yet research has shown time and again that trying new things together—both in and out of bed—can help keep the spark alive. So why not change it up once in awhile?

If you try something new and it’s a flop, that can be positive, too. Laugh together when things get wonky. The vulnerability, goofiness, and even messiness of sex can bolster intimacy, if we let them.

Light a few candles, set those phones to do-not-disturb, and prepare to rediscover each other with these intimate sex positions.

Read more 3 Things We Can Learn From Women Who Orgasm Every Time

Seated Wrap-Around, aka the Seated Hug

Also known as the Lotus Blossom (as it’s called in the ancient Indian sex guide the Kama Sutra), the Seated Wrap-Around requires you and your partner to embrace each other—ideal for gazing into each other’s eyes.

You can also try this position without penetration or even aiming for orgasm. Making out is highly underrated, and an incredible way to heighten connection and arousal. So if you do end up moving toward orgasm, it’ll be more pleasurable.

How to do it: One partner straddles the other partner while you both sit cross-legged. The top partner wraps their legs around the bottom partner as you face each other and embrace. The bottom partner enters the top partner vaginally with a toy or penis.

The Laptop

There’s nothing more intimate than face-to-face, slow, deep penetration sex, and this position is one of my favorites

How to do it: This one involves a bit of flexibility. The partner penetrating with their penis or toy sits in a chair with his or her feet flat on the floor, while the other partner sits on their lap, facing them. Rest the backs of your knees on your partner’s shoulders, and your calves and feet on or over the back of a chair.

You can grasp your partner’s neck to help maintain your balance, but he or she should hold your lower back for support. If you need to feel more stable, a slight variation would be to sit on a countertop or table and lean back onto your hands.

Forward-facing Cowgirl

This is a basic woman-on-top position—as opposed to backwards cowgirl, where the female sex partner faces away from her partner during penetration.

This position offers a lot of variety, and the woman has more control over rhythm, vigor, and depth of penetration. These positions also emphasize a woman’s pleasure, as they suggest that she knows how to please herself and is happy to take the reins, ‘riding’ her partner as a cowgirl rides a bucking horse or bull. Yee-haw, indeed. this is a good position for pregnancy sex, as well.

How to do it: The penetrating partner lies on their back, sits up on the edge of the bed, or leans back against a wall or headboard. The other partner rises up on her knees and either flings a leg across their partner’s hips, or straddles them at them feet and inches up their body with one knee on each side. She then guides her partner’s penis or strap-on into her and initiates the movement. From this position, a woman can easily slide down between their partner’s legs and give them some oral pleasure, or move her hips up over their face to enjoy some cunnilingus.

Read more 15 Techniques to use on her During Oral Sex

Face-to-Face Masturbation

Little feels more intimate than locking eyes with a partner, especially when you’re pleasuring yourselves. As a bonus, mutual masturbation allows you to show each other how you love being touched.

How to do it: Stand or lie down facing each other, then look into each other’s eyes as you each move your hands over your own body, focusing on your most erogenous parts.

Coital Alignment Technique (CAT)

Don’t let the clinical name turn you off: this position is wonderful for clitoral stimulation, which makes orgasm more likely for anyone with a vulva. Since it requires one person to put their full weight on the other’s body.

How to do it: Start out in standard “missionary position,” with the person with a penis or strap-on on top. That person will evenly distribute their weight over the bottom partner’s body and relax their muscles. Staying in close contact, the person on top should slide upwards, while their chin rests on the bottom’s shoulder. Tip: Keep your pelvises aligned (thus, the technical name), so the base of the penis or strap-on stimulates the other partner’s clitoris.

Read more Breast Massage Strokes every sex partner needs to master

The Hound

Despite the name, this position has absolutely nothing to do with Game of Thrones—and, it’s probably the most intimate spin on “doggy-style.”

This position is great—from slow, deep thrusting and quick, shallow thrusts. Start slow, and then go faster. Alternate between deep and shallow. In this variation, there is more skin-to-skin contact, and breasts, nipples, clitoris, and anus are all within easy reach. One partner can nibble the other’s ears, kiss their neck, or breathe dirty-sweet phrases down their back.”

How to do it: Both partners are on their knees. The penetrating partner is on the outside, curling their body around the other person, entering from behind. The other partner rests on their forearms, and can swivel their hips to find the most comfortable, pleasurable angle of penetration.

Face-to-Face Sex Standing Up

Face-to-face standing sex is great for intimacy and kissing though the one thing that’s missing from many upright positions is the aspect of stability, which comes from a bed or flat surface.

How to do it: Both partners stand face to face; it might be helpful if the partner being penetrated is standing with their back against a wall with their legs apart. The penetrating partner stands between the other’s legs, lifts one, and then enters. (Using a personal lubricant can make the mechanics of this position a little easier). The partner being penetrated can also bend their knee, placing their foot behind them on the wall for more support and traction during thrusting.

Especially athletic? You can lift both feet and place them on the wall. find something to hold onto, such as a doorknob, railing, furniture, or even a doorway. The closer the two are in height, the easier standing positions will be

Sideways 69, a.k.a. Spooning 69

Sideways 69 allows you to give and receive oral play while you’re positioned on your sides. You can enjoy the closeness of spooning and the fun of mouth-to-genital play at the same time.

How to do it: Lie down on a soft surface, facing each other in opposite directions and aligning your bodies so each partner’s mouth can reach the others’ genitals. Then, you…you know, go to town. Happy spooning

Explore new territories, flip through the book and experiment with pieces, parts, or entire games and fantasies. You will get it below

BOOK DETAILS & RANDOM PAGE SCREENSHOTS here

In this book you’ll find more fun, tantalizing, playful games and fantasies for couples,. It is the ultimate source for bringing erotic fantasy and intense sensual pleasure to life, it helps you explore your partner’s body, identify the hottest arousal zones, at the same time acting out your wildest sexual fantasies. This book will show you how to vary your approach to sex making it loving, erotic, stimulating, and more playful.

Sexual desire is as diverse as it is personal, and sometimes we don’t find it easy to share our most intimate thoughts even with the people closest to us.

We use a variety of methods to overcome these inhibitions and now more and more couples are getting started with sexual role play as a means to take on a different persona and explore their lesser-expressed fantasies.

Read more Bonding Plus 15 Sugary Sweet Things She Wishes You’d Do During Slow, Gentle Sex

CONSIDER THIS: A lady goes to the doctor and complains that her husband is losing interest in sex. The doctor gives her a pill, but warns her that it’s still experimental. He tells her to slip it into his mashed potatoes at dinner, so that night, she does just that. About a week later, she’s back at the doctor, where she says, “Doc, the pill worked great! I put it in the potatoes like you said! It wasn’t five minutes later that he jumped up, raked all the food and dishes onto the floor, grabbed me, ripped all my clothes off, and ravaged me right there on the table!” The doctor says, “I’m sorry, we didn’t realize the pill was that strong! The foundation will be glad to pay for any damages.” “Nah,” she says, “that’s okay. We’re never going back to that restaurant anyway.”