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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I'm having an affair

231 replies

Rgy3250999 · 27/04/2018 15:09

Well I don't quite know where to start.

I've been with my DH for well over a decade, since we were teens and we have a young family together. We used to fight and fall out a lot when we first started dating, probably because we weren't overly compatible and he didn't show me a lot of affection. I have issues in the past which I accept have probably made me quite needy, although he really wasn't affectionate a lot. We both had family issues and I suppose that pushed us together even more as our relationship was like a form of escapism.

Fast forewarn a number of years and we had a family together. The arguments calmed down but we still weren't affectionate and sex was very rare and not great (little effort from him mostly).

I have had depression (undiagnosed so presumed) and haven't been the easiest person to live with at times. I've struggled to hold down a job due to social anxiety and his lack of affection meant that I used to question him a lot after nights out and ask about work colleagues etc. I know this was wrong and I understand this has probably pushed him away. He used to look at porn but then stopped because I felt quite jealous so now when I talk about his low libido, he's quick to remind me that he was more normal until I interfered.

Anyway, we have tried to make it work and plodded on. Deep down we do get on but there is a lot of resentment on both sides and when we have tried to make an effort, it feels forced and fake. It never lasts and we go back to our usual routine of being like friends with little interest in each other and not much affection or physical contact. We don't argue much now as I think we're both past that stage and we do get on ok, but it's not fulfilling.

So, I was feeling lonely and stupidly set up a profile on an online dating site with a fake picture. Not to get dates or anything, but to have conversation with other men and remember what it felt like to be young and have that excitement. I intended to stop and delete the profile but it became addictive and I probably withdrew further from my marriage.

After a few weeks, I exchanged numbers with one man and we talked a few times (he still didn't know what I looked lIke) and it led to phone sex late one evening whilst my DH was in bed. However, he wondered where I was and came looking for me very quietly and caught me. I felt terrible and he shouted and got upset. I explained what I had done and why and told him that these men hadn't got a picture of me and I hadn't met anyone. He eventually agreed to forgive me and we both said we'd try to get the spark back. I cut off contact with that other man and deleted my profile.

Then a few months later, my husband was poorly and I was trying to look after him and the kids. He spent over a week in bed sleeping and I was lonely. The sex and affection that had been promised hadn't been overly forthcoming even before he was poorly and I was now so tempted to create a new profile that one evening I signed up to the site again. I chatted to various men briefly and eventually one man came along that seemed really nice. He wasn't amazingly good looking but we clicked and he made me laugh. We exchanged numbers and talked a few times on the phone, plus sent hundreds of messages and I felt addicted to the attention and having so much fun. I knew I should stop but I couldn't.

After a few weeks of talking, he suggested we meet and that's when I thought it would end. I was just going to ignore him or block him as i knew it was over anyway but because he had been so lovely and I'd basically tricked him, I opened up about my home life and told him the truth. To my amazement, he didn't block me. He said he was sad as he had felt such a connection and hadn't gelled with anyone that well, even when we talked on the phone. I agreed as it was effortless and so natural. I was that taken aback by him not blocking me that I agreed to meet him. I didn't think I was capable of it really as I'm very shy normally and have social anxiety issues. I also knew it would be wrong and the voice in my head said it'd be ok because I would stop myself. I've always told DH that I'd never meet anyone else and believed that to be true as it had only ever been talking and I did/do love DH and my family.

That day I was so nervous but I met him. It was like I had forgotten everyone else (selfishly) and pretended to be an actress or someone else so I wasn't doing anything wrong. We had a long walk together in the sunshine and although I was nervous, we laughed a lot and it was really nice. We had a few kisses and cuddles and although it felt a bit awkward as deep down I knew it was wrong, I didn't want to stop. Still I told myself that this would be it and I'd end it. I had proved to myself that I could still date and be found attractive and I thought that was all I wanted.

He messaged a lot after that meeting though and I couldn't stop the contact. My DH didn't suspect anything and although he's a nice man really and a good father, home was boring and the messaging was exciting and actually felt far more loving than what I had at home.

Fast forward another week and this online man asked me for another date. This time to the cinema. Again, I didn't think I'd turn up but I did and thinks felt amazing. It was like we were a proper couple. We were further away from my home so I could relax and not worry about being caught. We held hands and cuddled a lot and then it turned really quite passionate with the kissing. I could feel he was erect whilst we kissed and I knew he wanted me. He said he hadn't felt anything that electric and passionate before and that he thought he was falling for me. Part of me felt terrible but then another part knew he meant it and I felt truly loved. He really looked after me and kept looking at me when he thought I wasn't looking and stroked/kissed my hands so gently.

After the film, he asked if I'd like to see his new home as he had just moved a few days before and said I could visit him (or not, no pressure) at any time and he would love to see me. I agreed to go to his place and followed him back in the car.

I knew we would kiss and I was actually a bit scared of how I felt and what I'd allow myself to do but still I didn't turn around. We got inside and kissed a lot. We laid on his bed cuddling and he made me feel amazing. The kissing was so passionate and we were both massively turned on. Although I didn't allow him to touch my naked body, he groped me a lot and I ended up giving him a hand job. Afterwards, it still felt amazing. We laughed, we talked, we cuddled. He got another erection and it felt good that someone wanted me so much.

So that was yesterday and now I'm wondering, what next. If we meet again next week, I'm sure he will touch me at the very least and I'm fairly sure we will end up having sex. This is already an affair but having sex would really seem like a proper affair to me, especially as me and DH were both virgins when we met and haven't been with anyone else. My head is a mess and I don't know what to do. I can't believe what I've already done and either my DH or this other man is going to get hurt which I didn't want.

OP posts:
theredjellybean · 27/04/2018 15:13

Please stop.
I had an affair, it was worse mistake I ever made.
It was hell and I reger it immeasurably, even though in the end I did leave my dexh and am with my dp who I had the original affair with.
I just wish he and I had left first then got together.
Stop now.. It will onky get harder

Adora10 · 27/04/2018 15:14

Words fail me, you sound about 13 years old, no advice other than Karma will get you in the end if you don't put a stop to this sham marriage.

Thisnamechanger · 27/04/2018 15:20

Either tell your DH and talk about whether you want to work through it or leave him. Keeping him in the dark is unfair on him.

If we meet again next week, I'm sure he will touch me at the very least and I'm fairly sure we will end up having sex.

tbh it sounds a bit like you already know you're going to do this.

Onlyhavetwohands · 27/04/2018 15:21

It sounds like you enjoyed writing that. I don’t think we needed all the details about his erections. Your title says enough.

Bombardier25966 · 27/04/2018 15:21

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SandyY2K · 27/04/2018 15:23

You aren't happy in the marriage. You need to end it. Affairs while they may be exciting...can ruin your life and cause immense pain.

The consequences just aren't worth it.

MeetMeInMontauk · 27/04/2018 15:27

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Cliveybaby · 27/04/2018 15:29

It's fine to fall out of love with your husband and desire someone else.
What's not ok is lying to him and cheating.
The "honourable" choices:

  1. Cut it off with the new guy and make it work with your husband
  2. Break up with your husband and continue seeing the new guy
  3. Break up with your husband and be alone

It sounds like you've tried no. 1. you just don't want your DH. This isn't fair to him and he's done nothing wrong, so you owe it to him to not cheat (any more).

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 27/04/2018 15:29

That's nice dear. grow up

Isadora666 · 27/04/2018 15:30

Whatevs 🙄

LimonViola · 27/04/2018 15:30

Again, I didn't think I'd turn up but I did and thinks felt amazing.

If this is real, your whole post makes it sound like you have zero agency and everything is just happening to you, without your say so.

You may want to think about why that is.

Smeaton · 27/04/2018 15:33

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DBoo · 27/04/2018 15:34

I saw how bad your social anxiety was and then it miraculously dissapeared when you fancied a bit of attention outside of your marraige. Your poor husband. Tell him and let him get a life he loves. He sounds as miserable in the relationship as you the poor bloke.

It is hell dealing with someone elses anxiety you dont know how lucky you are your dh has stuck by you through that.

something2say · 27/04/2018 15:36

Ignore the haters above.

BUT. But but but.

This could turn out to be a mess.

I'm older than you love and I think your marriage is over. You were young, you are a different woman now.

It really is ok to end the marriage. Always make sure you bring your own money in for a start, now and forevermore, so that you can support yourself. But me, I'd go home and break up with my husband tonight.

Xxx honestly it wouldn't be the end of the world. It may be the beginning of a whole new life and to be fair, you deserve to be happy.

Just do it in the right order x

CherryBlossomSeason · 27/04/2018 15:37

So leave.

You know you want to. You've already decided and know what you'll do next time.

Let yourself and husband go free

Adora10 · 27/04/2018 15:39

Ignore the haters, I don't hate anyone, esp someone I do not know, spoken like a real cheat there lol.

AmazingPostVoices · 27/04/2018 15:41

To my amazement, he didn't block me

Why were you amazed? You are deluding yourself.

The fact that he didn’t block doesn’t mean that he is an amazing man and this is some kind of star crossed love.

It means he thought, “fantastic, no strings sex that I’m not going to have to work too hard for without any commitment whatsoever”.

A decent guy would have run a mile.

Your poor DH and poor kids.

something2say · 27/04/2018 15:43

Is that addressed to me?

I'm not a cheat.....I'm not even married.

But I have been in this woman's boat once, in a dead end relationship and fancied someone else, but I ended it with my partner before anything happened. But she's got kids and a mortgage and all that, and has less experience with men than I have. I just think, cut her a little slack. That's all.

mimibunz · 27/04/2018 15:43

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Adora10 · 27/04/2018 15:45

I just think, cut her a little slack

You judge this behaviour how you want, I shall do the same, thanks for your advice but I certainly do not need it!

pigmcpigface · 27/04/2018 15:49

It's time to end your marriage.

Do this FIRST. Then pursue another relationship.

Affairs are devastating for the other party. They're usually pretty fucking awful for the person having an affair too - I've seen people enter into these relationships as "just for the sex/affection" and end up getting very badly hurt.

This is NOT a positive way to manage the problems that you have. Your marriage is over - accept that, walk away, start again.

DiamondsBestFriend · 27/04/2018 15:50

I am firmly of the belief that everyone is capable of having an affair when the circumstances lend themselves to it. However, there is a vast difference between being in an unhappy marriage and ending up getting close to someone you didn’t envisage becoming close to, and actively going out looking for an affair which is what you did.

It doesn’t make either scenario right, just for the record, but sometimes it does happen that affairs are not black and white.

However, in your case you actively signed up to a dating agency to look for men. Your intentions were very clear from the outset. You wanted to have an affair and you set out to have one and now you’re righting about it like some teenager on the cusp of losing her virginity “I knew we would kiss/next week if we meet up I know he’ll touch me,” this is real life you know, and there are other people, including children involved here. You’re not some lovesick teenager you’re a married woman with children. If you’re that unhappy in your marriage then leave. But grow the fuck up with regards to the other men.

Juells · 27/04/2018 15:50

PigletWasPoohsFriend

That's nice dear. grow up

🤣

I lost the will to live by the end of the third paragraph.

ravenmum · 27/04/2018 15:50

Well, if you're capable of all those things you didn't think you were capable of, maybe if you try to do some other things, like end your marriage decently, you might find you're capable of that too.

Smeaton · 27/04/2018 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.