I just found RPW even though a lot of the main messages match my way of thinking. I have a question as a single woman dating with the goal of a LTR/marriage and looking for a high quality man, and how to set boundaries with sex.

I'm not sure how much background is necessary but I'm in my late 20s, attractive, post-grad degree, good career that I enjoy, bought a house in my mid-20s and am very financially responsible. I'm independent but I do like men that can be alpha and take charge. However, I need time to let them to convince me that they deserve my "submission." If I respect a man and trust him, I'll gladly let him lead but you can't tell if a man the kind that keeps his promises or is reliable right off the bat.

My problem is that in the initial dating phase, men want to have sex and I have learned that I want to wait more than one or two dates to get that intimate. Other things can start progressing on date one or two like cuddling or kissing but to work up to oral or intercourse I need there to be a monogamous commitment and I need them to have shown that they are in fact a high quality man. But men are persistent and some times there's no way to deescalate without firmly saying no.

How do you keep a man you want to continue dating from getting frustrated to the point that they walk away? I've tried being extra affectionate in terms of kissing and cuddling, being complimentary about their body and saying that just because I'm saying we should wait a bit doesn't mean I don't want to but then they say that they don't want to be tested. But I don't want to have sex with someone who doesn't respect me enough to not pressure me when I've already tried to keep things from escalating too fast in polite and subtle ways.

I'm not trying to weaponize sex but I don't want to give it up before they've done anything to earn my trust and respect. How can I walk that line without making a good man feel like he's jumping through hoops?