What is erotic intimacy?

Erotic intimacy, as explained by Esther Perel, is about cultivating pleasure for its own sake in a relationship. It involves taking both sexual and emotional risks with a partner, aiming to discover new aspects of oneself and each other. Erotic intimacy challenges the balance between the desire for familiarity and the need for surprise and novelty. It is not solely about achieving orgasm or performing sex, but rather about the quality of the experience and the depth of pleasure shared, turning the act into an art over time 1.