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Relationships

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Casual sex confusion.

253 replies

fishfingersinmysandwiches · 10/10/2015 14:30

Ok. Will try to keep this as succinct as possible.

Met man around three years ago. Felt an intense chemistry between us but he was married so obviously nothing could happen. He admitted having feelings for me, things all got a bit fraught, I felt angry and guilty and consequently my behaviour became a little unhinged. I realised we were crossing a line even discussing it, so broke off all contact. I know I didn't behave well and should not have let things get even that far. I was in a terrible place at the time (not trying to excuse myself, just adding some context).

About a year ago he tried contacting me. This time I was in a much better place in terms of self esteem and was swift in shutting him down, telling him if he was still married then I would not contemplate any contact whatsoever between us.

Very recently I discovered through a mutual acquaintance that he had been separated for a while. And in a weak moment I contacted him. He seemed so pleased to hear from me - he has been living apart from his wife for a year, says he is in a good place, and the conversation quickly turned to when we met and how we felt about each other. The intense physical attraction had been mutual he said. He had "wanted me so much" but had not been prepared to engage in an extra-marital affair (as neither had I). But now he was single so was I going to come to him or would he come to me?

He was pretty quick off the mark and the first one to bring up the idea of us getting together. I at first expressed reservations: 1) That it was entirely possible that we would meet and no longer feel the same about each other, and 2) That I had been hurt and confused before and didn't want to go through the same again. That I had had romantic as well as sexual attraction to him and so was wary of having my feelings hurt.

He said he understood and that despite having been separated for a year was probably not ready to commit to anything other than "good times". I had a think about it and replied saying, "Well look, I want good times too" (I do - it's been a long time for me) "so let's just have a weekend together, see how it goes (after all we may no longer even fancy each other) and then if it looks like things are going to get too complicated at any point we always have the option to knock it on the head?"

He says yes. Of course he wants to see me so let's do that. And let's see each other as soon as possible. He is hellishly busy but will get back to me with a weekend he can do asap. I say great. Can't wait.

That was a week ago. And I've heard nothing since.

I'm not asking for advice on a plan of action. I've already decided I will not contact him. If he wants to see me he will contact me, and if he doesn't then me contacting him to ask whyyyyy won't help and will just be humiliating.

But I would like some help trying to understand. I have agreed to giving a casual relationship a try. And I really am honestly prepared to give it a try. He doesn't have to want me for a girlfriend - I just really really want to finally consummate this attraction between us (the thought is so exciting I can barely contain myself). If that's all it is then ok. I can deal. But now it seems he doesn't want to and I just don't understand. Why would any man who wanted any woman as much as he says he did me, not want to have sex?

Did I imagine this chemistry? Impossible I think - those kind of sparks can't be faked. He is lying that he felt it too? Is he just busy and taking his time making plans (in which case why isn't he more enthusiastic?) Is he worried that it will inevitably result in some kind of negative fall out? And if he has changed his mind, why doesn't he just say?

I refuse to go crawling to him for answers and so have posted here. Thank you for reading. Would appreciate all and any thoughts.

OP posts:
fishfingersinmysandwiches · 11/10/2015 09:30

It's running and weight lifting for me. With loud loud music banging in my ears Smile

You know I've even had it in my head that I'll commit to a one off. That I won't tell him that, but that I'll go there, get it all out of my system, and then never engage with him again. A part of me feels aggressive, like I want to take back the power and hurt him back.

I know none of this is nice or healthy.

OP posts:
SeldomAthleticFC · 11/10/2015 09:32

I think that sounds pretty good to me. Nothing wrong with a bit of self-preservation. I doubt he'll be scarred for life and at least you'd get a legover. Grin

ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 11/10/2015 09:36

Oh I love a good fwb! A good friend. Someone you can go out with, hang out with, have a laugh with and have sex with but with none of that 'feelings' nonsense thrown in. Perfect!

But it doesn't sound as though you're going to be able to do that, so I'd save yourself the heartache.

ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 11/10/2015 09:38

seldom it sounds like a terrible idea, done for all the wrong reasons.

fishfingersinmysandwiches · 11/10/2015 09:43

Can you do that then FolkGirl? I'm fascinated by people that can. Because, you see, if I go out with someone, have a great laugh and great sex with them, then there are automatically feelings. I can't do all that with someone and feel nothing for them. Because if I like them enough for all that to work, then I like them IYSWIM.

OP posts:
birdsdestiny · 11/10/2015 09:50

It really doesn't sound as if casual sex with this man is a good idea for you. What you are describing doesn't sound anything like casual sex, you know him, you have feelings for him, you are waiting for him to call, you want answers from him about his behavior, under no circumstances does that fit the definition of casual sex!
I think you are going to be hurt, in fact I think he is already hurting you. Also I think you need to prepare yourself that the sex might not even be that good, all this build up and expectation, I would have thought nothing can live up to that. Sorry I know you don't want to hear that.

fishfingersinmysandwiches · 11/10/2015 10:03

Yeah the idea that it could all just be very underwhelming has occurred to me Birdsdestiny. That would be disappointing to be sure. I have floated that idea to him. It was one of my initial reservations - that we could meet, be baffled as to the initial draw, and disappointed. I didn't mention crap sex but thought that was implicit in what I was saying. He said he didn't reckon that would be the case but if so the worst that would happen is that a chapter would then be closed for us both.

I like to think I would see the funny side if that happened. But I fear I may have lost my sense of humour.

OP posts:
ThisIsStillFolkGirl · 11/10/2015 10:13

fishfingers I can.

I don't cope well with the emotional side of relationships, so it's really good for me.

LittleMissMarker · 11/10/2015 10:34

I'll go there, get it all out of my system, and then never engage with him again.

Spot the flaw in that plan – it wont be out of your system. That’s like saying “I’ll have one shot of heroin, get it out of my system, and never do it again”. Yeah right.

I want to take back the power and hurt him back.

The only person who can get hurt is you. Even if you did deprive him of a repeat fuck that’s not going to break his heart.

I guess I just feel that if we don't allow things to play out then this situation could keep re-occurring every couple of years.

Yes, if you let it. So don’t let it. Break contact and stay out of contact. Drop him and keep looking for someone who can really help you enjoy life. Everything you say implies that you need a man who moves from dates and romance to sex. The other way round isn’t going to happen.

Blodss · 11/10/2015 11:01

He just wanted a fling/affair with you when he was married. He and his wife separated and he didnt get in touch then when he was free. You have contacted him and he really is not interested in anything but sex even though you made it clear you want more. This chemistry you talk of is just lust. Probably didnt mean as much to him as it did to you with all these feelings you have harboured for 3 years. You admit you became unhinged. What was it that you did then that was unhingeworthy? It could be that he thinks your bonkers and just said "yes" so you don't start becoming unhinged again. He is scared of you maybe.

spanisharmada · 11/10/2015 11:07

I think you've over estimated what you agreed to, he suggested you meet for sex, you intimated you were interested in exploring a relationship, he was upfront he only wants sex, you agreed. He said he was in a busy period but would contact you when free for said sex. That sounds to me like an agreement for a 'booty call', so I wouldn't expect any contact until he's got a free weekend and fancies it.
I don't think the fact he hasn't contacted you yet suggests he's changed his mind, just he hasn't got a time slot yet to meet you for sex. Basically, he's just not that into you, IFYSWIM.

fishfingersinmysandwiches · 11/10/2015 12:09

Blodss he almost certainly does think I'm bonkers.

What happened is that after we met (the attraction was patently obvious but had not been verbalised or acted upon and I had no intention of contacting him or talking to him about it - at that point I was prepared to just let it go as it was out of the question for anything to happen) he sent me a text basically saying that he wished we had met fifteen years ago under different circumstances (fifteen years was the length of his marriage).

I lost it. I sent angry messages saying he was out of order, that I had been prepared to just leave it, that he was making things very hard for me by sending soppy texts. I also told mutual friends what he had sent which embarrassed him. He withdrew. I then became very apologetic for having had such an "over reaction." I sent over emotional messages that he ignored before coming to my senses and ending all contact. I'm not proud of any of that. Then like I said in my OP, when he contacted me about a year and a bit ago, I shut him down straight away. I felt in control and was glad to be doing the right thing. But then very recently I found out he was separated and this time I contacted him.

OP posts:
donajimena · 11/10/2015 12:31

Well judging by your last post this is absolutely not a good idea at all and I hope he doesn't contact you.
I mean this kindly. I think a lot of us have done the barking bonkers text thing but when you are 'out the other side' you can see how unhealthy it was.
He's not the man for you in any shape or form.
don't be too hard on yourself for the over emotional reactions/texts. After all the reasons for you sending them were his actions. I'm not saying its right but we can all lose it.

Gabilan · 11/10/2015 12:39

" I just find the view that women should hold out for a better trade/price incredibly outdated and sexist."

Yes, I get that. It's difficult even to find language that doesn't intimate that sex is something men enjoy, with no emotional attachment and absolutely must have whereas for women it's something to be endured in exchange for something else. Sometimes I do just want to fuck.

The problem I find though is that casual sex puts you in a very vulnerable situation with someone bigger and stronger who you have no real reason to trust. So then your next option is casual sex with someone you have some kind of relationship with, in the sense of 2 people who know each other and relate to each other. And once you know them and trust them, and still want to fuck them, then very often the question arises "do I want more than this?" Ideally the answer is "not really, they live too far away and I'm not moving/ Y habit is OK temporarily but I'd hate it in a serious relationship/ he's sweet but he didn't get that joke about Heisenberg that makes me giggle for hours."

Less than ideally the answer is "Yes, I want a lot more and have done for 3 years" Wink

fishfingersinmysandwiches · 11/10/2015 12:41

Thanks Donajimena - I can still feel very embarrassed and ashamed by my behaviour back then when I look back. But he was not some hapless victim. It was him that initiated the conversation back then, and it was him that initially suggested meeting up this time too.

He might be "scared" of me - I know just how irrational and terrifying women daring to express some wants and needs can be, them bitchez be craaazy after all Hmm - but really, he had plenty of options if he didn't want to engage with me. I contacted him on Facebook (I don't have his number - deleted it long ago) and he could have ignored, blocked, sent a polite message saying thanks but no thanks, and then blocked. None of those options would have had any unpleasant fall out. I'm not doing this all by myself.

OP posts:
fishfingersinmysandwiches · 11/10/2015 12:46

Also, since he has gone quiet I have not made any moves whatsoever to contact him. And I won't either. I'm holding on to the last shreds of my dignity this time.

Which is why this thread is so helpful. It's helping me to process stuff without looking to him for answers.

OP posts:
TheStoic · 11/10/2015 12:58

So from what I gather, you contacted him quite soon after you found out he was separated?

In your opinion, why do you think he didn't contact you when he separated?

brokenhearted55a · 11/10/2015 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

donajimena · 11/10/2015 13:02

I can also vouch that having sex after a dry spell with someone who has pretty much said that a repeat performance causes more problems than it solves. It doesn't scratch an itch.. you itch more..
I am speaking metaphorically. I did not get pubic lice Grin

Gabilan · 11/10/2015 13:07

Yes. Going without altogether is occasionally a bit frustrating. Getting some and then having to go without? Way, way worse. All your hormones go into overdrive and then have nowhere to go.

goawayalready · 11/10/2015 13:12

if i were you i would be finding out why he has split from his wife it sounds like he tried to contact you straight away why would that be?

brokenhearted55a · 11/10/2015 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SilverBirchWithout · 11/10/2015 13:18

I think he has already made it very clear he does not want a relationship (other than a quick weekend) with you. His comment 3 years ago about wishing he had met you 15 years earlier is a pretty glib one, the sort of thing you say to let someone down gently.

It is pretty clear that you have always had romantic feelings towards him, whilst he is not interested in anything remotely similar with you. I suspect in your heart you feel that after a weekend with you he may change his mind. Even now you are feeling anxious about non-contact after a week, can you imagine how that would feel after spending a weekend with him. You have already said that you cannot do fwb without romantic attachment.

Walk away, leave this man in the past, you managed to do this before when he caused such emotional turmoil for you. Otherwise this will not end well.

goawayalready · 11/10/2015 13:19

he tried contacting her a year ago she shut him down he has been seperated for a year im assuming he tried to contact her around the time he was separated/ing

brokenhearted55a · 11/10/2015 13:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.