This post assumes you are in a relationship with a man you find sexually attractive. Imo, if you don’t find yourself feeling a TINY little bit mate guard-y once in a while, you aren’t highly sexually attracted to him.

Women mate guard in all sorts of ways, some more subtle than others. So...put the ego aside (“mate guard!? I’d never dream of mate guarding!”) search those feelz, and list all the amusing ways you’ve consciously and unconsciously mate guarded a high value man in your life.

Here’s mine: There is a divorced mom living in our building who shamelessly flirts with my husband every chance she gets. She gives me dirty looks but is all pretty smiles and hair flips when my husband walks the dog on his own. She frequently asks him for ‘help’ with her packages. I’ve seen her accidentally on purpose drop her mail in front of him so he could pick it up. My H finds it amusing. I call her Wannbe Girlfriend.

Edit: Here's the definition of guarding. It includes 'surveilling', 'watching over' in order to protect or control. Guarding: guard /ɡärd/Submit verb gerund or present participle: guarding watch over in order to protect or control. "they were sent to guard villagers from attack by bandits" synonyms: secured, secure, protected, shielded, sentineled, manned, policed "there is a guarded barrier in the mountains" watch over (someone) to prevent them escaping. "his task was to help guard Japanese soldiers" synonyms: protect, stand guard over, watch over, keep an eye on; More watch over (someone) to prevent them from escaping. "police officers were guarding inmates who could not be accommodated in prison" synonyms: keep under surveillance, keep under guard, keep watch over, surveil, mind "the prisoners were guarded by armed men"