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.
Want to share the sex story of your relationship? Email sexlife@forthem.com for details.
Marin (33) and Leigh (35) are two married lesbians living in a one-bedroom in Jersey City. Theyโve been together for three years and married for nine months, which means theyโre still newlyweds and we love that for them. Both work in the entertainment industry, and when theyโre not doing whatever that entails, you can probably find Marin cooking, Leigh outside in nature, or both of them together watching movies. Theyโre monogamous, emotionally literate, and this is how they fuck.
What was your sex life like when you first started dating?
Marin: We definitely had more sex when we first started dating. It was a long-distance relationshipโBoston and Jersey Cityโso when we saw each other, it was a whole production. A lot of sex in a short amount of time.
Leigh: Yeah, now that we live together, itโs more spread out. Life just shows up more. Youโre not always at your sexiest when youโre home from work or have your period or an infantโs thrown up on you. Not that we have infantsโjust cats.
Marin: Living together changes the context. When youโre long-distance, everything feels urgent and hot. But now it’s like, we also have to support each other through the least sexy moments. That takes a different kind of intimacy.
Leigh: And weโve both been on different meds over time, which definitely affects libido.
How long into the relationship did you decide to live together, and how has living together impacted your sex life?
Leigh: We moved in together after about nine or ten months. But we were already friends before dating, so it didnโt feel rushed.
Marin: You said pretty early on, like in February, โIf weโre not moving in together, whatโs the point?โ
Leigh: I just didnโt want to do long-distance monogamy. I knew that wouldnโt work for me.
Marin: Living together means seeing each other when weโre tired or cranky. That doesnโt kill the passion, but it changes how it shows up. You have to try harder. Back when we were hookup friends, it was just assumed weโd have sex when we hung out. Now itโs likeโare we in the right headspace? Did someone just have a hard day?
Leigh: Yeah. The sex doesnโt go away, but you have to protect it more. Make time for it. Remember the feelings when things feel routine.
Do you have a top/bottom dynamic?
Leigh: Neither of us are strict tops or bottoms. Iโd say Iโm slightly more top-leaning, but Marin lied at the beginning.
Marin: I didnโt lie! I said I was a service top. Which I maintain.
Leigh: You also said you were a top-top. But you were out there acting like a top and then got with me and I found out the truth.
Marin: Isnโt it good I was comfortable enough to reveal my true self โ bossy bottom included?
Leigh: Youโre often a bossy bottom.
Marin: Not often.
Leigh: Often. I was eating your ass for months before you would even admit it!
Marin: Because you kept offering!
Leigh: And you kept accepting. Bottom behavior.
Marin: Okay, fair. But I do think weโre both vers. Youโre a little more aggressive top, like a โtops donโt listen to Lana Del Reyโ type.
Leigh: I donโt! Youโre the sad girl music one.
Marin: I do listen to Lana, Mitsky. Sad girl bottom. Sad girl vers.
Do you feel like your sex drives are well matched?
Leigh: Now, yes. There was a time when I wouldโve said noโwhen I was extremely horny and you werenโt matching that. But I also think I was trying to prove something to myself. Iโd never done monogamy, and I wanted to see if I could.
Marin: Yeah, you were trying to tamp it down to not ruin what we were building. But in doing that, it felt like it made it harder to access altogether.
Leigh: I was trying not to be a fuckboy. And we were fighting a lot, which didnโt help. Also, Iโm on mood stabilizers now, and they level out all my highsโincluding sexual ones.
Marin: Youโve said you used to get validation from being perceived as sexually powerful.
Leigh: Yeah. Thatโs something Iโm still unlearning.
Marin: But now I think weโre better aligned. Even when weโre not both horny at the same time, we can tap into it with each other.
Are there things you like to do during sex? Things you don’t like to do?
Leigh: I love 69. But I always want to be on the bottom so I can stare into the butthole.
Marin: You never let me look at yours!
Leigh: I do. I just like that angle more. I love being called a โgood boy.โ Sometimes daddy, but you havenโt done that in a while.
Marin: Thatโs because you havenโt been topping lately!
Leigh: I always want to be called boy things during sex. Doesnโt mean I think Iโm a manโjust like the vibe.
Marin: We donโt really do anal penetration. Neither of us are into it.
Leigh: Some light butt stuff, sure. But no big moves there.
Marin: Not into feet either. No judgment. Just not our thing.
Leigh: Everything we do together, I like. That wasnโt always the case with other people before you.
Marin: Same. I probably wouldnโt enjoy deep-throating a strap.
Leigh: You had to learn how to suck strap!
Marin: I did. And now Iโm amazing. We do the usual: fingers, mouths, eating pussy, fisting sometimes, strap for both of us, vibrators. Lots of talking during sex.
Leigh: That surprised meโhow good you were at it even though you said youโd never done that before. We always talk during sex.
Marin: You donโt like music during sex.
Leigh: Too distracting. I want to be focused on you.
Marin: Maybe we try instrumentals.
Leigh: Iโd be open to that.
What are some things youโd like to try (or try again)?
Leigh: A threesome, maybe. Going back to the sex party. Weโve been, but only done stuff with each other.
Marin: I want to do the โWolf of Wall Streetโ sceneโMargot Robbie in heels pushing Leo away.
Leigh: We donโt really wear heels.
Marin: We could make it work.
Leigh: Outdoor sex. In a car. Weโve done that and itโs always hot. Like on our honeymoon. Or that cabin.
Marin: That was fun.
How important are orgasms to your sex life?
Leigh: Very. For me.
Marin: I like to come, but I donโt want it to feel like a requirement. If it doesnโt happen once in a while, itโs okay.
Leigh: It doesnโt feel like pressure. I just like knowing you will. Itโs not hard to make you come.
Marin: Thatโs sweet. Youโre very good at it. I wouldnโt want to never have one againโbut if I donโt one time, itโs not the end of the world.
Leigh: Iโve never been on SSRIs, so orgasms havenโt been hard for me. But I know thatโs different for you.
Marin: Still cushy though. Remember when I said that?
Leigh: I do. Your pussyโs still so cushy.
What role does masturbation play in your sex life?
Leigh: We do a lot of mutual masturbation. I think that counts as sex.
Marin: Yeah, I rarely do it alone anymore. Usually just if one of us is out of town or I have my period.
Leigh: Weโve got a solid vibrator collection. You won one in a costume contest.
Marin: I did. Iโm proud of that.
Leigh: We use toys during sex, tooโvibes, straps, whatever helps. I think itโs just another way to connect.
Marin: Parallel play, but with eye contact and kissing.
Tell us about your favorite or most memorable time youโve had sex together.
Leigh: Just one? Thatโs so hard.
Marin: Weโve had a lot.
Leigh: Sex in the car in Provincetown. Sex in that crazy honeymoon cabin. The champagne bathtub in the Poconos.
Marin: Our first Valentineโs Dayโyou got a hotel near your family, we did a little photo shoot first. It was cute.
Leigh: Italy. When we finally had sex after your mom left. I hit it from the back and you looked hot as hell.
Marin: That was good. Remember when we had emotional sex and you wrote a poem about me?
Leigh: Yeah. I posted it to Instagram. Now people are gonna find it.
Marin: Let them. It was beautiful.
Leigh: I love you.
Marin: I love you too.
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. You can join them by emailing sexlife@forthem.com! (No writing experience necessary.)