Honestly both times they stopped me from escalating further saying they didn't want "sex on the first date"
And that's totally fine. You have to determine from the first part of meeting them if you want to slot them into plate, plate with potential, potential relationship categories. Those will determine your course of action and level of calibration and IDGAF attitude.
If plate only, then I would go on full aggressive and try to get the lay. Otherwise, I usually find just kissing them and waiting it out until the 2nd or 3rd date to tone down their defenses to work better. This way, they have slept on it and know for sure if they wanna see you again.
EVERY gal wonders on the first meetup if the guy only wants to use them for sex. You don't want to give her that idea by being like most other guys.
I just recently met up with this gal. Here's my field report:
1st date - I try to go in for the kiss after holding her hand walking around. She pulls back and tells me she's visiting her brother and his family the next day and is concerned on getting and giving Covid. I just agree and amplify and give her a kiss on her forehead. Whatever, it's no big deal because I know I made her feel good regardless.
2nd date - We go to get something to eat and walk to the harbor. We hold hands and ask her if she visited her brother yet and she tells me she has. Then I go in and kiss her and tell her that I had to make up for last time. After our walk, we end up in front of her place. She tells me if she invites me in, we're not having sex. I said cool, no big deal and tell her I don't usually put out until the 10th date. She looks at me trying to figure out if I'm kidding or not. Then she says that's way too long and volunteers info saying 3-4 dates seems more normal. We watch tv and start making out. I get her half naked and finger her and svck on her tits. She says she doesn't want to do anymore after that. I was ok with that because I still sensed there was forward movement. She tells me she wants to wait for the 3rd date(societal programming) and invites me to her place this Friday.
Point is you don't always have to go 0-60 right away. As long as she's having fun, you're having fun and you sense there is forward progress, be cool and don't reek of any desperation and things will eventually come around.
I used to always wanna get laid on the first date but lately, I found 2nd dates or more works better, especially if you want to keep seeing her and possibly build something. My $.02