Nibble

“May I nibble your ear, Alison?” was the first sentence anyone ever asked to check my consent. He paused to wait for my answer. I was in my first cuddle pile, slightly bewildered by what might be expected of me and the purpose of a cuddle party in general. I said yes to the request and marvelled at the experience. Not just of the soft, slow, brief nibble, but of the space and time to decide before it happened.