Hmm.. For my ex partner, we already have a child and were staying together and sometimes, I wanna have sex but hold back myself "out of respect" for her. Because I love her, and do not wana treat her as a sexual object. If we were Married, It will be different. My brother thought the same Way towards his ex wife too. We try to show our affection in other ways eventhough we have quite high drive. But now our partners have left us, sO we could have been wrong in our approach.
Just wish to give you a different perspective, Mayb that what your partner is thinking too?