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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 so confused - sex in new relationship

149 replies

Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 00:29

Been seeing a guy for two months but he's been pursuing me for about two years. He is 48, I am 40. I was coming out of a messy divorce and recovering from that so not interested in a new relationship at the time. Two months ago we spent a lot of time together and became very emotionally close. I felt safe with him so decided to take the step of dating him. It has been very respectful, very nice, great conversations.

We had sex for the first time 2 weeks ago, on a minibreak. We spent a lot of time in bed cuddling but the sex (it happened twice over three days) was missionary, head down, no eye contact, and over very quickly. That's a lot of time to be in bed cuddling and talking naked with someone without actually having sex or doing anything sexual. In fact, I don't think he has seen me fully naked at all, and neither me him (his choice.)

Due to work/children commitments, we could not see each other again for 2 weeks. We spoke every day on the phone and I tried to open up some conversation around sex and what he likes and there was lots of chat (instigated by him) about how he wants to rip my clothes off and get me naked and have sex again. I found this a bit odd because he had plenty of opportunity while we were away and preferred cuddling.

He lives outside London so came down for the night tonight and booked into a hotel. The plan was always that I would go back with him, but return to kids at home to sleep. I got a babysitter, booked til 2am, wore some nice underwear and got dressed up. I took him for dinner and when dinner was over we had agreed we would go back to his hotel together, but he seemed to get nervous about what it would be like, whether he had booked for two or for one etc. Bizarre as it's what we had arranged.

Finally got back to the hotel and he jumps on me. Pulls my dress up, takes my pants off, pulls his trousers down, puts on a condom and we have sex again. Missionary style. I have been looking forward to this forever, so despite the fact it didn't last long, I finish. He then finishes, pulls out, rolls over and falls asleep, snoring. It was about five minutes. I get my phone out and start scrolling. He pulls me in for a cuddle then falls back to sleep.

I eventually get up and start to get dressed. It's 10pm. He's barely awake. I go to the loo, get my stuff together and start booking a taxi. Meanwhile he is snoring. When I leave I let him know, he props himself up a bit in bed and pulls me in again for another hug and a kiss and off I go.

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I keep coming away with a strange feeling. Maybe my expectation of sex in a new relationship is too much? During our minibreak there were several times I pulled the covers off both of us, tried to sit up and look at him properly but he pulled the covers back over, pulled me back down into the bed, cuddled me again and asked me jokingly what on earth I thought I was doing. I don't know how he expects to have a relationship like this, and he keeps saying it's a relationship he wants.

He was married for 15 years before this. He says I am the first person he has had sex with since his divorce. Is this normal? Am I wrong to feel paranoid?

OP posts:
aroman · 17/11/2022 06:45

I think you need to communicate what you actually want.

Januarcelebration · 17/11/2022 06:47

BoobsAhoy · 17/11/2022 06:44

“Violated” fgs. You’re having sex. You’re in bed together naked.

And what?

If someone feel uncomfortable about someone pulling the covers back and staring at their naked body that’s ok.

You maybe comfortable with it, that’s ok too. But you aren’t everyone.

It’s really shitty to say people can’t have boundaries because you have just had sex or are naked.

tunthebloodyalarmoff · 17/11/2022 06:47

I think the strange feeling you have is that he is shit in bed and not very loving it's just sex that's it. Dump him life is too short for this

girlmom21 · 17/11/2022 06:50

BoobsAhoy · 17/11/2022 06:43

I think sex is just wrong. Tell him. See if it improves. If not bin.

the cover thing not weird.

You don't think it's weird for her to repeatedly pull his covers off to inspect him despite him making it clear he's uncomfortable?

RandomMusings7 · 17/11/2022 06:53

ChristmasisRuined · 17/11/2022 03:00

You sound incredibly judgemental Hmm

Why? For expecting a little foreplay? For expecting a man not to turn over and start snoring right after?

Yeah, right...

LoveShitJokes · 17/11/2022 06:59

He's just shit in bed OP. Only you can decide if his good points outweigh this.

TellMeWhere · 17/11/2022 07:01

I wouldn't appreciate being exposed and stared at Confused I'm not an exhibit.

Sounds like he's very uncomfortable and his talk doesn't match reality...

You are present in the room though, so rather than lying back and thinking of England, why don't you take some initiative and switch things up?

Chomolungma · 17/11/2022 07:04

Talk to him, OP. Tell him you'd like more foreplay and more variety and see how he responds. I'm sure things can improve, but not unless he knows how you are feeling.

Watchkeys · 17/11/2022 07:09

I don't know what is wrong with me

You don't like his style of having sex. Why do you assume there must be something wrong? It's like saying 'He likes broccoli and I don't... What's wrong with me?'

Luckydip1 · 17/11/2022 07:20

I think he has low self esteem and lacks confidence around sex following his divorce. Give him some encouragement and it should get better.

Aprilx · 17/11/2022 07:29

blisstwins · 17/11/2022 04:45

Agree. I am not especially body confident and this would kill me. If you like him otherwise I would give it time.

Also agree. In fact I found that really quite shocking, I am not body confident and if a man kept trying to uncover me I would think he was a nasty abusive bully.

NoDatingForOldMen · 17/11/2022 07:30

You don’t like the way he has sex, so you need to articulate that to him, sounds like he has not had much sex recently

Also think the covers thing is weird

GreyCarpet · 17/11/2022 07:33

Aprilx · 17/11/2022 07:29

Also agree. In fact I found that really quite shocking, I am not body confident and if a man kept trying to uncover me I would think he was a nasty abusive bully.

It wouldn't bother me if someone I loved and felt safe with did this. My boyfriend and i do it to each other all the time to 'check out the goods'.

A new date, after nervous sex, when they were already exhibiting signs of not being hugely confident? No chance. Its hugely disrespectful.

The OP can expect whatever sort of sex and whatever sexual relationship she wants. But she can't force it onto someone else.

hodgeheg22 · 17/11/2022 07:34

Very early days and he sounds nervous. Perhaps a bit of performance anxiety. And funnily enough I get the thing about not wanting to be seen naked. I was like this with my dh in the early days. Happy to have sex but wanted to stay covered up 🙈

Mumoffairy · 17/11/2022 07:35

Bananarama21 · 17/11/2022 01:00

Why were you pulling the covers off imagine if a man did that to a woman would be considered creepy. I think it sounds like nerves until people relax with one another and gain confidence. Doesn't sound like your feeling it though

Creepy to pull the covers off when youre having sex? Why?
If you have sex with a person you are usually comfortable with them.
My guess is that he isnt fully comfortable yet. I would have a conversation with him and not let him brush me off.

hodgeheg22 · 17/11/2022 07:37

Not sure how anyone here manages a long term relationship. So many 'throw this one back' and 'at least you've found out now' comments. What that he's nervous? Sex is quite often poor in the early days when you're still getting to know each other. Jeez give the guy a chance.

Januarcelebration · 17/11/2022 07:41

Mumoffairy · 17/11/2022 07:35

Creepy to pull the covers off when youre having sex? Why?
If you have sex with a person you are usually comfortable with them.
My guess is that he isnt fully comfortable yet. I would have a conversation with him and not let him brush me off.

Well they were not having sex.

Op said she pulled the covers off, sat up to get a good look and he pulled her back down into a cuddle.

He made it clear that he wasn’t comfortable and yet op did it several times.

That’s what’s creepy.

GreyCarpet · 17/11/2022 07:42

Mumoffairy · 17/11/2022 07:35

Creepy to pull the covers off when youre having sex? Why?
If you have sex with a person you are usually comfortable with them.
My guess is that he isnt fully comfortable yet. I would have a conversation with him and not let him brush me off.

During our minibreak there were several times I pulled the covers off both of us, tried to sit up and look at him properly but he pulled the covers back over, pulled me back down into the bed, cuddled me again and asked me jokingly what on earth I thought I was doing

That reads to me like they were just in bed - not having sex.

Besides, she'd already described sex as lasting 5 mins and with head down missionary style. Not much to see then even if she had kicked the covers off from under him!

jay55 · 17/11/2022 07:43

hodgeheg22 · 17/11/2022 07:37

Not sure how anyone here manages a long term relationship. So many 'throw this one back' and 'at least you've found out now' comments. What that he's nervous? Sex is quite often poor in the early days when you're still getting to know each other. Jeez give the guy a chance.

He's 48, he's had decades to learn what foreplay is.

bingotime · 17/11/2022 07:46

People keep saying if you don't like this type of sex. This is not a type of sex. He just used her body for himself. Didn't think about her at all. To me that is not a type of sex. Women are not just receptacles for men.

RandomMusings7 · 17/11/2022 07:49

bingotime · 17/11/2022 07:46

People keep saying if you don't like this type of sex. This is not a type of sex. He just used her body for himself. Didn't think about her at all. To me that is not a type of sex. Women are not just receptacles for men.

I struggle to imagine what women would actually prefer the no foreplay - over before it began - then roll over and snore type of sex...

Why is the bar so low?

Watchkeys · 17/11/2022 07:52

bingotime · 17/11/2022 07:46

People keep saying if you don't like this type of sex. This is not a type of sex. He just used her body for himself. Didn't think about her at all. To me that is not a type of sex. Women are not just receptacles for men.

But to many it clearly is a type of sex, and to quibble the terminology is to miss the point.

Purpleavocado · 17/11/2022 07:52

I think you need to have an open conversation with him, tell him what turns you on, what positions you like etc. Then see if it improves.

Roselilly36 · 17/11/2022 07:53

Sounds very disappointing OP, have you told him what you want? If you are happy with other aspects of the relationship, it’s worth trying to fix, if you are unsure perhaps is he’s not the one for you. Seems odd behaviour for someone who has been married for a long period of time previously, there’s obviously something he doesn’t want you to see, what could that be? A scar, surgery, tattoo perhaps. Unless he is completely honest with you the relationship is never going to work. Good luck.

RandomMusings7 · 17/11/2022 07:54

Roselilly36 · 17/11/2022 07:53

Sounds very disappointing OP, have you told him what you want? If you are happy with other aspects of the relationship, it’s worth trying to fix, if you are unsure perhaps is he’s not the one for you. Seems odd behaviour for someone who has been married for a long period of time previously, there’s obviously something he doesn’t want you to see, what could that be? A scar, surgery, tattoo perhaps. Unless he is completely honest with you the relationship is never going to work. Good luck.

Herpes? Genital warts? Signs of some other STD.

Yes, I'm cynical like that...