When /u/prarrot dropped his report on approaching, one idea that stuck out a lot to me was not smiling initially when approaching. I've expanded and experimented with this a few times both on the wife and other women by either not smiling initially, or not acting like I'm possibly joking when flirting.

 

The big takeaway I see from when I do this is quite a large boost to my own internal game, and a higher success rate in women being submissive/receptive to whatever it is we're talking about.

When you keep that straight face when saying something sexual, or approaching, or expressing interest, you reinforce to yourself that you are serious about your intentions. It's as if by being serious, you're telling yourself: "I AM sexually interested. This IS okay. I AM comfortable expressing my true self. I must be, because I'm doing it. Why would I be doing this if it wasn't true?"

In addition to reinforcing your behavior to yourself, not joking effectively takes away any out you have from what you present. It's laying yourself bare and open to any reaction she gives, positive or negative. It's burning your ship at the shore. There's no ego protection you can fall back on if she shoots you down. You can't tell yourself: "oh I was only kidding anyway." But if you are comfortable that even if the worst happens, that you'll be ok, then you shouldn't need that out.

One of my favorite examples of when someone else demonstrates this as well

 

For women, the fact that you are going all in is seductive. To her, you are covertly communicating that you have your shit together, that you're comfortable with this level of flirting, so you must have done this before. In addition, in a social setting with her friends, if given the choice between interpreting your "joke" as real, and possibly being viewed as a whore if indeed you were joking, or interpreting your "joke" as a joke, she will pick the latter. But if you don't imply your interest is a joke, then you open the door to her being able to interpret it for what it clearly is to everyone around...interest.

 

Obligatory don't eat paint: It's fine to joke at times. Don't pick sexual subjects as the first area to start not joking with your wife, take the wheel back first. Being serious does not mean deadly serious, simply unapologetically serious.