Alright, so after a few years of really working on self-improvement, I'd say I'm solid, for a hobbyist. I don't claim to be able to get any woman I want or never make mistakes, but I have got the process of dating down pretty solid from meeting a woman, to the bedroom, then to a place where we date casually and have sex.

Recently, however, I've begun a monogamous relationship and I feel exactly as lost as I did when I got into this in the first place. I have no idea how to proceed from here, how much affection (genuine, no-strings, non-manipulative affection) is too much, how to communicate, etc.

I guess the trouble is, is that typically when I'm dating, while being respectful of people as human beings, I could really care less if the walked out tomorrow (maybe that's why I was able to achieve a degree of success), but now that I'm trying to not only maintain a sexual relationship, but something I consider a friendship, I find myself invested because I'm seeing a woman who's sexual companionship satisfies me, and who also meets my needs and shares interests in many other areas of life.

Any advice is welcome, I would especially like reading material, as most of my reading has consisted of the primary phases of initiating a sexual relationship. The one thing I would like to avoid is any lazy responses like: "bitches are bitches and you're a sucker for trying to get anything beyond sex from them." If that's how you feel, or something along those lines, I'm absolutely open to discussing it, but would just request that the ideas are expanded upon.