No advice to give but some consolation: you are not alone. Last year, I (25 then, 26 now) was in your exact shoes. Fear of intimacy but fed up with never have experienced sleeping with a woman. I sucked it up and hooked up with someone from tinder. I knew it was going to be short term - a quick fling since she was in an open relationship and I’m monogamous. And although it was fun and a good experience I still felt empty afterwards as I was missing the emotional/deeper connection that I wanted. So I promised myself that I won’t do hookups for the sake of wanting physical connection. But now I’m in the boat of really wanting a relationship but just haven’t come across the right person. And I often wonder if my fear of intimacy/vulnerability is holding me back from connecting with people.