You are definitely not alone.

Men crave intimacy just as much if not MORE than women.
I believe as men age, the primal goal adjusts. In your younger years, your body is driven to "spread seed" due to Primal instinct, in my opinion, that subconscious urge goes away with age. This changes the driving reason to pure enjoyment; you are more in tune to what feels good instead of what will get you off the fastest.

That or you discovered being a puppet master is thrilling when it's a human with reactions.