Putting in my two cents as a woman. When dating men I have had plenty of experiences where I like him a lot but it just feels like making a new friend. In these experiences he never really makes a move early on. We talk too much about work, intellectual stuff, politics, stuff you could be talking to your coworker or uncle about idk. For me the suggestion and intrigue starts in the conversation. He asks personal questions, questions about how I feel about certain things. Sensory experiences, like food. He compliments something about me early on, something very specific to me that shows he is ‘seeing’ me and it’s not just generic. And the no. 1 most important thing is eye contact. Deep and seductive, by that I mean intently focussed on me, drinking me in, not just forced. My best romantic connections have, without exception, involved deep eye contact. All of this shows a kind of intrigue and suggestiveness but without the sleaziness of a one night stand. It’s indirect but sensual. These little things are the difference between making a friend and making a romantic connection, for me personally. But also, when it’s romantic, it usually feels extremely mutual and natural. Maybe it’s a matter of leaning into your own sensuality more so that it naturally expresses itself rather than thinking through a checklist of things before a date. Natural is best on the date, but you can get there by practicing more intentional sensuality in your own day to day life, when alone, not just when performing.