Yes – you can. But it takes talking about what intimacy truly means for both of you.
For some, sex is the language of love. For others, closeness comes through safety, presence, shared laughter, or tenderness. None of these ways are “less real.” Intimacy isn’t a formula; it’s something you create together.

Many people feel guilt when they don’t want sex — especially in a culture that treats it as proof of a working relationship. But not wanting it doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It means your body, right now, needs something else. Desire isn’t a promise you owe someone. It’s a state that changes.

If you’re in a relationship without sex — by choice or for a while — it can raise questions. The key is not to let silence grow. Talk about what you do want: warmth, laughter, physical closeness without goals. When the focus is connection, not performance, something softens.

Alma’s tips:

• Try saying: “I love closeness, but right now sex doesn’t feel right for me.” It keeps honesty without shutting the door.

• Explore other kinds of intimacy — touch, words, daily gestures.

• If guilt grows heavy, remind yourself: love isn’t measured by frequency.

Closeness without sex can be one of the truest forms of intimacy — when two people meet without demand, but with openness.