Sex/Life is a series all about the secret sexy business of couples, throuples, exes who still fuck for some reason, LDR darlings, polyculites, and any other kind of amorous grouping your perfect heart can fathom. We send them nosey questions, they record themselves answering them, and we transcribe that conversation for all of us to enjoy. All names have been changed and any identifying details removed.
Reade (49) is a queer/non-binary human and Mack (46) is a trans man and they live together in Alberta after U-Hauling nine weeks into their now year+ relationship. They were poly but became obsessed with each other to the degree that monogamy became their new way of life. Mackโs a framer who is certifiably good with his hands, Reade does construction and customer service, and both are really involved in activism and community service.
And this is how they fuck.
What was your sex life like when you first started dating? How is that different from now?
Mack: So, it was a little scary at first because you donโt really know your partner. Definitely a lot different than it is now. We were just learning each other. It was good, but itโs way better now.
Reade: I think at the start, we were both kind of guarded.
Mack: We were definitely both guarded . Nervous. I held back, you know? You canโt completely be yourself with someone when youโre brand new. I mean the sex was great but it keeps getting better over time.
Reade: Can I tell them about farting? And how you used to leave the room? I thought it was so cute but not sustainable long term. He was so sweet, heโd leave the room in the middle of sex to fart.
Mack: Sure you can tell them whatever you want, itโs anonymous. Like when we first started having sex, I wanted to make sure that everything we were doing felt good and right. And it was. It was definitely a learning process.
Reade: We did a lot of checking in. It was lovely but sometimes I just wanted to get ravished. Iโm glad weโve moved past some of that. Mack and I still do lots of checking in but itโs definitely not as much.
We also didnโt have our own spaces when we met so it was hard to find ways and places to have sex. Which I think contributed to the guardedness and also why we moved in together so quickly. It gave us room to be loud and exploratory and brave.
We had sex in a bathhouse for a while and we also had sex on one of Mackโs job sites.
Mack: Yeah it was like an office though. In an office on an air mattress. It was nice to be allowed the space tho. Like the bathhouse and the work site.
Reade: I just remember how covered in sawdust we were. And I lost a sock at the bathhouse. It was kind of chaotic. Also the straight dude factor at the bath house got kind of creepy after a while.
Mack: Yeah Iโm glad we stopped going there. I mean the job site does seem a little weird but the office wasnโt touched and it kind of made it into our own private space where we could hang out and get to know one another. It was safe, it was private.
Reade: One of my favourite earliest memories is you blowing up the air mattress for the first time. We couldnโt stop laughing.
Mack: At first I bought a single thinking that it would be fine and quickly realized that we at least needed a double with a pump. I remember having one of my team blow it up for me.
Reade: A lot of good times on that air mattress. I think we soaked the whole thing from top to bottom.
Our sex life now is chefโs kiss! Itโs soooo good. Iโm having the best sex of my life and Iโm almost 50. Iโve never had a partner like Mack before who can keep up with my sex drive. Heโs also really invested in getting me off. Most of my partners wanted to receive oral but didnโt give it me. Mack gets in there like itโs the best meal of his life. Every time. I really appreciate that about him.
Mack: Our sex life is phenomenal. Iโm glad we took the time to get to know and understand each other. I really enjoy having a partner who gets me. Who knows what I like and understands me holistically. My partners in the past were clueless. It would always be me having to self advocate to get my needs met and I donโt have to do that anymore. My partner loves and understands me. Like, I like being touched. It was a fight with my past partners because they had low sex drives. They felt like it was all I wanted or that I was using them. And now itโs not anymore. Does that make sense? Like Iโd go through long periods of time of abstinence so I wouldnโt have to fight to get my needs met.
Reade: I feel like Iโm invested in his pleasure [laughter]
Mack: ME TOO! I love making love to you.
Reade: Same! Itโs joyful. Itโs fun. We laugh a lot. We play. Weโre not afraid to be messy and loud and get what we need. And now he farts in front of me so I know heโs comfortable.
[laughter]
If you live together, how long into the relationship did you make this decision, and how has living together impacted your sex life?
Reade: We do live together. Itโs been 9 months (Reade counts it out on their hands). We moved in together like seven weeks after we met. It was kind of ridiculous. Iโve never done something like that before. But we were so in love from the beginning. And we needed our own little corner of the world to be together in.
Mack: We got a kitten (laughs).. Weโre pet parents.
Reade: We thought at first weโd move in together like six months into dating butโ
Mack: Circumstances beyond our control lead to an early move date. I still had my apartment for 4 months so Iโd sleep there on weeknights but go to our apartment after work and on weekends. I think it gave us the time to get to know each other better before living together full time. Iโm glad we had that.
So itโs given us the privacy to be intimate. Be comfortable. Love. Laugh. Squirt.
Reade: I mean our sex life was good from the start but I think we were finally able to relax. It gave us room to really get to know one another physically. We learned how to sleep together. We had longer stretches of time with one another in a private space. We werenโt at the mercy of anyoneโs time or space, just ours.
Mack: And a work schedule. (laughs)
Reade: I think weโve been able to cover more of our home in cum.
Mack: Our poor couch!
If you are parents or caretakers, how has this impacted your sex life?
Mack: Weโre pet parents (we have a dog and a cat) I know thatโs different but theyโre still interested in whatโs going on.
Reade: Our dog forces us to take breaks, go outside, touch grass. I think itโs good. Our kitten has pounced a few times at inopportune moments.
[laugher]
Mack: Overall they donโt affect our sex life like a child or a senior parent would.
Do you have a top/bottom dynamic? Talk about that.
Reade: Weโre both switches. Iโm into letting him be toppy with me. Something Iโm not normally interested in. I trust him in a way I havenโt been able to with previous partners. Itโs really hot when he does some damage. I like wearing his marks. I like being owned a little bit. Again something Iโve never let another partner do.
Mack: Our relationship is different than any other relationship Iโve ever been in. Iโve never let anyone top me. But I enjoy being topped by my partner. So we switch it up. Itโs quite fun.
Do you feel like your sex drives are well matched?
Mack: Absofuckinglutely! For the first time in my life I donโt feel like I have to go looking outside of my relationship for sexual satisfaction.
Reade: Yes! Fucking finally! OMG! Itโs amazing! I never thought I would find this person and Iโm so grateful I have. I feel like I have catching up to do. And same, I donโt need sex outside of my relationship.
Mack: For the first time I donโt feel like I wanna share. Iโm happy being monogamous.
Reade: Same. Although I like to make room for other possibilities because I think itโs important. But right now Iโm 100% obsessed with our sex life.
Are there specific things you like to do during sex? Things you donโt like to do?
Mack: Yeah. Things we donโt like to do: 69 unless itโs titty/titty. No anal. I dunno what donโt you like to do?
Reade: Yes agreed no anal. I feel like our yums line up really well. We discovered Mack likes to give a little light pain, it really turns him on. A little choking, a little biting. He likes it when I dig my nails in. I like being grabbed in a rough way. I have a lot of flesh, and I like it being pulled on and grabbed. I like it when he sits on my face.
Iโd say weโre both into trying things. Weโre comfortable with each otherโs weird. I like using a q-tip in my ear and Mack wants to go down on me while I do it, but โ
Mack: Oh my god! We havenโt even done that yet.
Reade: I know, but we will. I feel like weโve only scratched the surface of the things weโre going to explore. I know we want to have sex in a park. I want to have sex in an elevator. I feel like weโre getting into the next question.
Mack: Whatโs the next question?
What are some things youโd like to try (or try again)?
Mack: Outdoor sex. Yeah!
Reade: What else?
Mack: Safe public play spaces. Ummm I dunno, your turn.
Reade: I think you mentioned being tied up at some point. I have some really nice rope made by a queer couple thatโs perfect. I agree with public sex. Iโd love to take him to a queer bath house.
Mack: Yeah, Iโm into that.
How important are orgasms to your sex life?
Reade: Iโd say pretty important.
Mack: Theyโre like the most important thing. I think. Like the whole idea of having sex is to get off. I mean it feels good but getting off is really important.
Reade: Weโre really good at making sure we both get off. Weโre both squirters. I know my orgasms have gotten better with Mack.
Mack: Yeah itโs extremely important to both of us. That we make sure each other gets off.
What role does masturbation play in your sex life?
Mack: Itโs an important part. During penetration itโs extremely important. Itโs masturbation but itโs Reade masturbating me or vice versa. I havenโt masturbated on my own since weโve been together. Or very rarely. I mean weโre both ok with masturbation in our relationship. If I wanted to go masturbate right now I would. Same thing with you (indicating Reade).
Reade: I do it sometimes to get to sleep. But mostly Iโd rather have sex with Mack. Iโve never had such free access to amazing sex with a partner and it still hasnโt gotten old in any way. I think masturbation is great and I think folks should do it if they want to but right now there isnโt much of a need for me as solo exploration.
Tell us about your favorite or most memorable time youโve had sex together.
Mack: Theyโre all my favourite! (laughs) I dunno.
Reade: I think the first time you came on me, all over my tits and belly. Or when you first sat on my face and came all over me and in my hair. I think discovering that new level of pleasure was fantastic.
Mack: I was thinking about that! I like that time at work when I came all over you.
Reade: I think itโs the level of intimacy that weโve built thatโs the best thing for me.
Mack: I also like when we first started introducing the toy (a large silicone dildo) a lot. Thatโs when I knew we didnโt need a third party. With the strap-on it helped complete things we were missing in our sex life. It kind of felt that things were missing before, and Iโm glad we were able to find something to complete that besides another person.
Reade: I just have so many great memories of fucking and making love.
Mack: We have such good sex!
Reade: Itโs so good.
Mack: I keep checking in because itโs so hard to believe itโs as good for you as it is for me.
Reade: It really is. I love you.
Mack: Iโm so in love with you.