How do you get what you want in a relationship without asking for it?

During the honeymoon phase, it is reasonable to believe that your mate understands your expectations because in that phase, their actions appear to support that belief. It’s when the honeymoon phase ends and priorities shift that your mate’s a long term vision of the relationship becomes clear. No only does the shift often produce a dramatically different relationship, the shift can lead to a relationship that no longer meets your expectations. Discussing your expectations while your mate is satisfying them is much easier than trying to define them after the fact.