In real life, couples do sometimes go to bed mad. Occasionally, one may not be speaking to the other. The state of not speaking can even be mutual.
Keep a lush feather in your nightstand drawer. (I have a big fluffy black feather on a lacquered stem. Elegant.) On nights when there is a little tension in the bed between you, take out the feather.
• Lightly tickle his or her ear.
• Run the feather under his chin.
• Stroke it along his neck and up to the other ear.
• Tickle his nose—and follow that with a light kiss.
• Good night.
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