Positions Step-by-step guide · 7 steps -18

The edge of the bed

The right height, straight for the G-spot

She lies at the edge of the mattress, he stands or kneels, upright and facing her: it all comes down to height and angle. Legs drawn up, she's in charge. Ankles on his shoulders, he is. Here's the position, move by move.

Duration20 min

DifficultyEasy

IntensityIntense

Props a pillow, water-based lube

Start

A couple embrace at the edge of the bed, she lies with her hips on the edge, he stands facing her, in soft late-afternoon light. — Step 1Settle in at the edge, at the right height

See in Photo Comic art

Settle in at the edge, at the right height

Lie on your back across the bed, your bottom right at the edge of the mattress. To start with, just let your legs dangle over the side.
He moves in between your thighs, facing you. If the bed is high enough, he stays on his feet. With a low bed, a sofa or a big, firm pouffe, he kneels on the floor, keeping his torso upright.
The right setting: when he stands up straight, his hips are level with yours. Too low for him? Slip a pillow under your bottom to raise your hips, or he can spread his legs slightly to come down to your level.
If he has to stoop to reach you, his lower back will soon start complaining. Better to sort out the height now than to strain later.

Take time to warm up

He starts on his knees at the foot of the bed, between your thighs. His hand doesn't go straight to the vulva: first he caresses all the rest of your body, then moves in closer, little by little.
Then he lingers on the clitoris for a long time, with his fingertips or his mouth: quick little flicks of the tongue all around it, then he takes it between his lips and gently sucks.
Make sure the inner labia are nice and slick, with a water-based lube or saliva. No petroleum jelly or baby oil: they upset the vaginal flora and aren't compatible with condoms.
This isn't time wasted. The G-spot responds once you're already well aroused, not before.

The G-spot responds once you're already well aroused, not before.
Step 2 · Take time to warm up

Find the G-spot with his fingertips

Once you're thoroughly aroused and wet, guide him: he slides two fingers inside you, pads facing your belly. If you've already explored on your own, tell him what you found.
Just behind the pubic bone, on the front wall, he'll feel an area with a different texture from the rest of the vagina, slightly rough and bumpy. That's probably it.
No in-and-out from the entrance to the far end: he curls his fingers slightly and presses in small pulses, sweeping in an arc towards the wall on the belly side.
A sharp sensation, almost like a sudden need to pee? You've found it. Tell him what you feel and guide him: that's the area his penis is going to aim for.

Slide in slowly, standing straight

He stands back up (or stays on his knees if the bed is low), torso straight, fully upright, at right angles to you.
He enters gently and slowly, draws back, then comes in again. There's no rush.
At a right angle, his penis presses against the front wall of the vagina, right where his fingers found the G-spot. Just as with his fingers, what counts is the pressure on that wall, not how far each stroke goes.
His hands hold your thighs or your hips. If he's strong enough, he can lift your hips slightly and shift them, searching with you for the angle that does the most for you.

Legs drawn upYou're in charge

Bend your legs and bring your knees up towards your shoulders, as far as your flexibility allows. Your hands can hold your legs, raised and spread wide.
Or rest your feet flat on his chest. By pushing or easing off, you decide the rhythm of his thrusts.
He can also take you by the feet and bring them back towards your belly. All you have to do is let him.

Ankles on his shouldersHe's in charge

Raise your legs and rest your ankles on his shoulders. Not flexible enough? Let him put them there himself.
Now he takes back control. He holds your thighs against him and sets the rhythm and the depth. With your legs in the air, penetration is deeper and more intense.
He varies his movements: a few shallow thrusts, then a deeper one. Slow or fast, long or short, hard or gentle, straight in, to the sides or in swirls.
Just one ankle on his shoulder, the other leg free, and the angle changes completely. Swap legs after a while.
If he bumps against the far end (the cervix), he shortens his strokes, or you go back to legs drawn up.

The clitoris, by hand

Your hands are free (except when they're holding your legs): stroke your clitoris. He can also take care of it with one hand.
Wet your fingers with your own lubrication, then stroke up and down, side to side, or in little circles around it if direct contact is too intense.
Start slowly and lightly, then faster and firmer, to find what feels best. Pressure and rhythm vary from one woman to the next.
Once they've found the right touch, many women keep it up until orgasm. Others stop just short, wait a little, then start again.

Who it's for, and when

The edge of the bed is an easy position. The woman doesn't have to support her own weight or be especially flexible: if need be, he's the one who lifts her ankles onto his shoulders. And nobody's weighing on anybody, which makes it a good alternative for women who feel squashed or short of breath in missionary.

It's for couples who crave intensity and want to go looking for the G-spot together. Just searching for it can become an erotic game in its own right. It suits her: she can let go and think of nothing but her own pleasure. And him, if he likes to run the show, especially once her legs go up over his shoulders.

As for when, it's made for spur-of-the-moment desire: the edge of a bed, a low sofa or a big, firm pouffe is all it takes. But if it's the G-spot you're after, take your time. It's no magic button: not every woman feels it the same way, and it responds mostly once arousal is already running high.

Good to know: with your legs on his shoulders, penetration goes deep. At the slightest discomfort, draw your legs back or ask him to stay near the entrance. If the pain comes back every time or lingers after sex, talk to a doctor or a sex therapist.

If you're pregnant, have a fragile back or knees, or limited mobility, ask a health professional for advice first. The side-lying version (see the variations), thighs drawn up without touching the belly, has long been presented as suitable for pregnant women: again, check that with your health professional.

Variations to take it furtherVariation 1: on your side, him kneeling on the floor

Lie on your side at the edge of a low bed or a sofa, your back to him. Rest one thigh on top of the other and draw them both up (or let him do it) towards your belly, without letting them touch it.

The rest is for members

The rest of the guide opens with a free account, and you come back right here.

Create my free accountFree, no credit card. Already a member? Sign in

The album · Photo

The edge of the bed, in pictures.

-18Members-only illustration

-18

-18 6 more illustrations for members The same scenes in Comic art, 6 nude versions. Members only: a free account is enough, no bank card. See them

Your questions

What people wonder.

How high does the bed need to be?

Whatever height brings his hips level with yours when he stands up straight. Low bed or sofa? He kneels on the floor. A little too low for him standing? A pillow under your bottom, or he spreads his legs slightly. If he has to stoop, you haven't found the right height yet.

When he presses there, I suddenly really need to pee. Is that normal?

Yes, in fact it's often a sign he's on the G-spot: the urethra runs just behind that area. That sharp sensation is often a letdown the first time. The area responds best once arousal is already running high: take more time beforehand, stroke your clitoris too, and keep to small, gentle presses. A trip to the toilet first makes it easier to let go.

What if the penetration is too deep?

Draw your legs up and rest your feet on his chest: then you're the one setting the rhythm and the depth. He can also stay near the entrance, with short strokes. If the pain comes back every time or lingers after sex, talk to a doctor or a sex therapist.

In the same spirit

To go on.

Positions

Positions -18 69 without the stiff neckOn your sides, taking turns

Positions -18 The chair positionAstride, facing him or facing away

Positions -18 Sex standing up against the wallA user's guide

Positions -18 The face-to-face lotusSitting entwined, eyes locked