By the Numbers?

Q:
Every girl I go out with seems to wait at least three dates before letting me into her pants. Is there an unspoken rule that women secretly agreed upon about dating guys? Is there a way to get her to violate this rule? And what should I do to appear less desperate to get her to put out—shag that homely but ready-and-willing broad at the neighborhood bar?

A:
Yes, most women abide by a hookup time line inculcated in us by a society that deems us “loose,” not to mention desperate, if we jump your bones on the first date. But many of you guys actually write these “rules” by dividing women into two groups—either Madonnas or whores, as some shrinks put it. (Of course, most women want you to think of them as Madonnas.) Moreover, men are natural-born hunters—and we are the prey—so it would be rather unbecoming for the fish to swallow the hook without the bait. You are supposed to supply bait in the form of a few dates with sweet words and desserts, and this pursuit is termed “courtship.”

Don’t fret about it; such is the law of nature. Most vertebrate males of every species have to put in some work before they get laid. The exact number of dates before we succumb to your seduction varies depending on geographical region and other factors, although most women try to avoid having sex on the first two dates—longer if the man is relationship material.

There are exceptions, of course. If she is really horny or really liberated, if you are really hot or really loaded, or if she has just broken up with her ex and is looking for revenge or rebound loving or a one-night stand, you can get in without the wait. The rest of the time, you can expedite things a bit by learning the art of skillful seduction—although learning to delay gratification may be easier than becoming a world class Casanova. Taking her to Tiffany’s is likely to move up her time line—in the animal world it is termed a “copulatory gift,” and the size of the gift determines whether the male praying mantis gets laid or gets his head ripped off.

With respect to letting out some steam to appear less horny, you can certainly shag that neighborhood slut; but remember, you can spoil your appetite by eating junk food before the feast. Whether you should go that route depends on how hungry you are—and how homely she is.

Victoria Zdrok's combination of beauty and intelligence has earned her the label as "sexpert" in many media outlets. She writes a monthly column on love, sex, and dating for Penthouse Magazine entitled "Ask Dr. Z," and a column on sexuality and the law for Penthouse Forum. She is a frequent contributor to several publications and has her own SIRIUS Satellite Radio specialty show, The Sex Connection, on Howard 101. You can find out more about Dr. Z at www.sexysexpert.com