As long as man and woman exist, the requirement for a relationship will be there. A relationship in turn requires intimacy. However, intimacy means one thing to women and another to men, which is the root-cause of all complications in life. It is necessary for human beings to have emotional intimacy on a regular basis for them to develop and maintain good mental health.
Physical intimacy, on the other hand, does not always mean only sex. Women generally like to start with hugging, kissing and other foreplay before sex begins. Men also enjoy these things, however, their "warming-up" is more visual than emotional. That is why men mostly love to have sex with lights on, while women prefer the lights off. The approach differs radically tough they both actually express love. This does not mean that men do not need to feel connected. They do, but love for them is more physical than for women.
Love is a wonderful gift, and kiss is one of the simplest ways to express it. Whether it is a child kiss for a mother, or an adult kiss for a lover, a kiss always expresses love. While an adult kiss indicates sex, normally a kiss often indicates intimacy and emotional connection. The exception would be when a man is kissing sexy females on one-night stands or the like; then kissing and sex are actually only a biological manifestation. Kissing sexy women or men is actually how clandestine sex initiates as kissing and seduction always goes hand-in-hand. Whether it is during a serious relationship or a fling, kissing and touching are the basic triggers of sex.
Intimacy is however, just as important for men as it is for women. It is important for women to know that many men want the same kind of intimacy that they do. They enjoy to be hugged and kissed, and told how much they are loved. All the things that women actually look for in a relationship! It makes them feel valued and loved, the same way a woman does. Unfortunately, few men express this need. It is good that women do it nonetheless!
Men, on the other hand find it really difficult to express their love outside sexual intimacy with kissing and hugs. This is a major complaint from women, who feel "used" when men only kiss and hug them when they want "it". It is important that a man learns to express his love both physically and verbally outside the bedroom. A woman who feels appreciated and loved responds to sex with much more ardor and fire than the woman who is kept wondering.
Open, frank and continuous communication and feedback are the key to a healthy and long-lasting relationship. When some men find romantic expressions very difficult, and uncomfortable, a bit of encouragement most often will have the man respond in a positive way. The man too can express in words what makes him feel good sexually and outside sexual intimacy.
Needless to say, romance needs to be kept alive, as it is the only ingredient, which will mature love from sexual to total emotional long-lasting compatibility. That is why a man and woman who love each other are called lovers!