July 24, 2021

"Mike will literally lick my face if I am not giving him affection when he desires it."

Says Amber Lee, a matchmaker, about her husband Mike Lee, a life coach and matchmaker. She adds: "This playfulness helps me to loosen up and helps him to get the attention he desires from me as we laugh and enjoy each other."

Quoted in "Are You in an ‘Inter-Intimate’ Relationship? For some couples, having different nonsexual intimacy preferences can be a strain on the relationship. Here’s how to meet in the middle" (NYT). 

I guess the key word there is "nonsexual." This article is about cuddling. He's not licking her face because she's withholding sex. The article would have a completely different vibe if that were the situation. He's licking her face to get nonsexual physical intimacy. Somehow, in that situation, the licking is supposed to make us feel that Amber's husband is adorkable. 

“Proper communication about affection wants and needs should occur often in the relationship,” Ms. Sampson, the social worker, said. “Rituals should be clearly identified in order to foster and maintain equilibrium. Couples may want to kiss good morning and good night, embrace one another upon greeting or ensure there is cuddling before or after sexual intimacy....”... 

Emily Grace Bergh, 39, a publicist, and Colter Reid Bergh, 33, a software engineer,... have been together for three years.... Ms. Bergh requires more affection.... Mr. Bergh actually sets an alarm on his phone for cuddle time every Thursday night to meet his wife’s expressed need....

3 comments:

Ann Althouse said...

Alexa writes:

"My dog does that then gets booted off the sofa. If a man did that I’d drop him off at the pound."

Ann Althouse said...

lordsomber writes:

"I wonder if David Attenborough narrates the audio versions of these articles.

"They're so ridiculous I imagine even he couldn't read them without chuckling."

Ann Althouse said...

Ignorance is Bliss writes:

"He's licking her face to get nonsexual physical intimacy

"So where does he lick to get sexual physical intimacy?"