I feel one of the loneliest feelings in the world for a man is having to 'apply' for intimacy with his own wife.
When he has to initiate 100% of the time, he doesn't feel like a partner, he feels like a pest. He stops asking not because he doesn't want you, but because the constant, subtle rejection hurts his dignity and pride. He would rather go without it than feel like he is begging for basic affection."