Edward, 60
double quotation markWhen I dreamed about Jane in a latex catsuit, we had one made
When I met Jane through a dating website 22 years ago, I wasn’t looking for anything serious. As the single father of a troubled teenager whose mother left when he was a child, my life was stressful and dating wasn’t a priority. I came away from our first date thinking Jane was lovely, but there were no sparks and I didn’t expect to see her again. But when I found myself with a day off, I phoned to ask if she wanted to go for another coffee. I’m glad I did, because what we have is much deeper than a spark: it’s a love that just keeps growing.In the early years, Jane offered me an escape from my stressful home life. We’d go for walks, to cafes and galleries, have fantastic sex, then return to our ordinary lives – her as a single mum, me as a single dad.We moved in together after five years, and got married after 11. Now the kids have grown up and left home, it’s just the two of us. We’re no longer embarrassing parents kissing in the kitchen, and for the first time, sex can be spontaneous. There have been dinners that have ended up in the bin because all we want is each other.A couple of years ago, I started experiencing erectile dysfunction. I miss the physical connection that comes with penetration, but it hasn’t affected our closeness. It upsets me more than it upsets Jane, but it just means we have to be more inventive.I think of sex as playtime and have a vivid imagination. If I have a sex dream, we’ll often turn it into reality. When I dreamed about Jane in a latex catsuit, we had one made. The anticipation – having it measured, made and delivered – was as exciting as the outcome. My only worry is that the fantasies are always mine. Under the covers, I ask Jane about hers, but I haven’t found anything yet.Jane, 58
