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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:
Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 09:38

I was scrolling through mumsnet 10 mins after we got to the room and he was snoring away

OP posts:
Herejustforthisone · 17/11/2022 09:39

Oh OP, how have you not got a skin-crawlingly bad dose of the ick? This is so gross. A bad shag would completely annihilate any feelings I might have for someone, especially if I went back a second time to check if he was having an off-day. He’s so passive and just using you for a hands-free wank. There’s more to life than this.

Iliveinanoodie · 17/11/2022 09:39

MiddleParking · 17/11/2022 06:20

Booking a hotel to get your hole and then dithering about whether he’s “booked for one or two” as if that’s how hotels work. Five minutes on the job then he falls asleep at, what, 9pm? Nah that’s completely normal in the first throes of new romance, sounds amazing actually. When’s the wedding?

😂

Herejustforthisone · 17/11/2022 09:41

Actually it doesn’t sound like he’s using you so much as he’s just really shit at sex, and worst of all, doesn’t realise it.

stopbeeping · 17/11/2022 09:44

That sounds to me like nice sex it's safe you just got together

I took years to get comfortable enough with my husband we were married and I still wanted to have sex like that I was so so shy

If he is tender and caring and ticks all other boxes and you orgasmed just wait and be close and work on the sex

It sounds hard for you guys to make the space to have sex and I know when the sex with my husband feels like we are rushing or forced as in planned it's never as good
I always like a surprise when I have sex even if it's on my mind saying or planning tl that effect makes me shy and then I have sex like you've described

Maybe you both need less planning and more time

I wouldn't write the relationship off for this

Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 09:46

Thank you for all the replies. I am torn between "he is controlling and passive and he's not doing what he says he's going to do" and "he's underconfident and needs lots of praise and affection and communication."

Who knows which!

OP posts:
Herejustforthisone · 17/11/2022 09:51

stopbeeping · 17/11/2022 09:44

That sounds to me like nice sex it's safe you just got together

I took years to get comfortable enough with my husband we were married and I still wanted to have sex like that I was so so shy

If he is tender and caring and ticks all other boxes and you orgasmed just wait and be close and work on the sex

It sounds hard for you guys to make the space to have sex and I know when the sex with my husband feels like we are rushing or forced as in planned it's never as good
I always like a surprise when I have sex even if it's on my mind saying or planning tl that effect makes me shy and then I have sex like you've described

Maybe you both need less planning and more time

I wouldn't write the relationship off for this

You think that sounds like nice sex? 😬

CraneBoysMysteries · 17/11/2022 09:51

Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 09:46

Thank you for all the replies. I am torn between "he is controlling and passive and he's not doing what he says he's going to do" and "he's underconfident and needs lots of praise and affection and communication."

Who knows which!

I don't know, maybe speak to him?

His ex may have not been into sex and a quick few thrusts was all she wanted. Maybe that's been ingrained in him? Who knows. But if you aren't able to articulate to him what you want then how is he supposed to know? At least give him a chance to address it?

Tatiepot · 17/11/2022 09:51

if you like him apart from this, then you need to allow for him being nervous, and shy. I’m just out of a long term relationship and the thought of doing anything, with anybody, is terrifying.

you also can’t expect him to read your mind, his ex may have wanted sex the way he’s doing it, and if you finished just from PIV he probably thought he’d done a good job!

maybe give it one more try, but this time offer to treat him, move gently on from cuddles and show him what he’s missing; but don’t go all 50 shades on him (or whatever you’re into) the first time…give both of you time to get used to each other.

if after that he’s still insisting on doing it his way then re-think…but give him a chance at least.

Herejustforthisone · 17/11/2022 09:51

Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 09:46

Thank you for all the replies. I am torn between "he is controlling and passive and he's not doing what he says he's going to do" and "he's underconfident and needs lots of praise and affection and communication."

Who knows which!

Neither would get my knickers wagging.

Deadringer · 17/11/2022 09:55

He might be a bit shy about his body and after so many years with one woman he might have got into some bad habits, good sex with a new person can take time, but, at this stage of the relationship he should be interested in exploring what you both like, it all sounds very wham bam thank you mam, and not very appealing. I wouldn't give up on him just yet, but If you can't discuss this with him and things don't improve you might need to let this one go.

stopbeeping · 17/11/2022 09:55

@Herejustforthisone

Well yes it does to me on the weekend away. Cuddles time in bed talking being close and sex with someone who is gentle and respectful
I don't know why people don't like missionary or laying down I feel more comfortable like that find it easier to orgasm can kiss and see each other
A blanket to be warm

Not sure why it's so bad
I can see it's disjointed but doesn't sound like bad sex from the Op
She said she orgasmed or I think that's what she meant so it couldn't have been bad..

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 17/11/2022 10:00

I don't think it matters why he is like he is. He's 48, he's not going to take instruction on the matter, I think that's clear. @stopbeeping genuinely, the answer is just that different people like different things. Fine if you'd be ok with it; OP is not.

@Cloudyafternoon I'd knock this one on the head. He's pursued you for a long time so I think expectations were always going to be high, shame he couldn't live up to them!

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 17/11/2022 10:03

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

Yeah, I'd find that attempted scrutiny to be a real turnoff.

courgettigreensadwater · 17/11/2022 10:07

I think so soon into this relationship I would be honest. Tell him in a nice way what you have written on here. Maybe link it to your last relationship and talk about how you want a bit more fun or to be a bit more adventurous in bed this time. See what he says and if anything changes. If nothing changes maybe call it a day.

Tatiepot · 17/11/2022 10:16

@courgettigreensadwater is that not going to make him feel dreadfully inadequate though? I’d be mortified if I was on the receiving end of that so early on and I’d probably can the relationship right then out of embarrassment. He’s been married a long time and may just think it’s normal…if he resists change then that’s a different thing entirely.

courgettigreensadwater · 17/11/2022 10:18

No. Not said in a nice way. If nothing is said nothing will change and it will probably end anyway. She can say she's enjoyed it so far but maybe we could do this or that. I would not want him to feel inadequate and hate hurting people's feelings so that is not what I meant.

Tatiepot · 17/11/2022 10:26

I guess I’m just a wuss 😂 @courgettigreensadwater as I’d hate it to be discussed at all at this stage 🫢🙉 and would rather my new partner gently led by example at the time?

whatever seems right to the OP is the way to go, as I may be very old/fashioned!

RandomMusings7 · 17/11/2022 10:27

courgettigreensadwater · 17/11/2022 10:18

No. Not said in a nice way. If nothing is said nothing will change and it will probably end anyway. She can say she's enjoyed it so far but maybe we could do this or that. I would not want him to feel inadequate and hate hurting people's feelings so that is not what I meant.

There is no nice way to tell a man his sexual performance is subpar. You can sugar coat it all you want, but it won't be well received.

SwishSwishBisch · 17/11/2022 10:30

Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 09:46

Thank you for all the replies. I am torn between "he is controlling and passive and he's not doing what he says he's going to do" and "he's underconfident and needs lots of praise and affection and communication."

Who knows which!

Gosh yes, who knows! What a conundrum! What a mystery!

FGS OP, talk to him! I don’t know why you expect a bunch of random people on MN to give you the answer. He is the only one who can. If you aren’t able to talk to him about your sex life, the whole thing is doomed anyway.

Rewis · 17/11/2022 10:32

You're both in your 40's. Been having sex for decades. Had previous long term relationships. Just talk. Tell nicely how you feel, ask questions and tell your expectations. If he is not OK with this then he's the wrong guy.

courgettigreensadwater · 17/11/2022 10:36

I guess I just thought if she's basically 'jumped' passionately into missionary every time it may be easier to have a post coital chat after or similar. Maybe talk about similar previous scenarios that didn't fulfil her expectations that are similar but not exactly the same so maybe he thinks on? Who knows 🤣

Stravaig · 17/11/2022 10:37

The sex doesn't have to be objectively good or bad. It didn't feel right to you and that's all that's important. You're not sexually compatible. You don't click in that way. It was simultaneously weird and disconnected and horribly unsatisfying, yet also clingy and possessive and chiding. I'd back off, it sounds like you this a caring friendship at most. I believe in paying attention to all the small signals of discomfort that women are conditioned to overlook in our desperation not to be alone.

gannett · 17/11/2022 10:38

Cloudyafternoon · 17/11/2022 09:46

Thank you for all the replies. I am torn between "he is controlling and passive and he's not doing what he says he's going to do" and "he's underconfident and needs lots of praise and affection and communication."

Who knows which!

None of us can possibly know which either but I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who are unsatisfied with sex but can't verbalise it to their partner.

Great sex doesn't just happen magically, as much as that's the image sold to us of sparks flying etc. You have to say what you want and what you don't want.

courgettigreensadwater · 17/11/2022 10:40

@RandomMusings7 it's not saying he's sub par though. I mean she can say she's enjoyed the missionary experience so far (as she's actually mentioned although it was short lived) but she can still say she would like to maybe take a bit more time, explore and experiment a little.