Friends With Benefits - A Love Story

I've got a very close friend who's been around for about four years now and we've been spending a lot more time together over the past several months.  It started out strictly as a use-and-be-used kind of arrangement, but it's no longer like that.   We have what one could easily call the perfect Friends With Benefits relationship.  Not only do we have mind-bowing sex, we care about each other and we do things together.  We go out to eat, to clubs and bars, we do weekends at the beach, we talk at least once a day, watch movies or TV together, he'll come swimming if he has the day off.  We feel safe emotionally with each other.  Most FWB relationships I've had dwindled solely to "benefits," minus a friendship.  This guy and I have a pretty good - excellent in fact - idea of how our chemistry works, physically and emotionally.  We've been sleeping together for so long that almost nothing is off-limits.
One of the extra benefits of our relationship is that we can be completely open and honest with each other without fear of judgement or hurtful criticism.  I know he still has hang ups about his ex, and he knows just about the entire Buzzard saga.
I stay at his house now whenever I have work in the area.  He bought me a box of Splenda for my coffee and a glass jar to keep it in, I now have a toothbrush and washcloth there and his dog is accustomed to me being around.  I also stay over at least one night during the weekend and we go out or stay in and watch a movie.  Did I mention how good the sex is?  There's something about it that just...works.  I know what drives him crazy and he knows just what buttons to push to send me over the edge.
We're in a relationship but we're not.  I've decided to not over analyze anything, because there's no need to. If I need to know something I can always ask him, and sometimes I don't even have to do that.
The other night I received this text -
"Hey I just wanted to tell you that I really do like when you stay over with me.  It may be a little selfish of me, but when you're here you take away some of the loneliness that I feel.  I'm sorry I'm so...detached.  I am trying to get through it though.  Thank you :) Xoxo"
So I responded -
"You don't have to apologize to me, I know you're trying to get through it so that's why I'm not on your ass about it.  I feel the same way about the loneliness too, so don't think you're being selfish.  It's fun when we play house."
Him -
"I just want you to feel comfortable when you're here.  Thank you.  I like that you're able to sit and do your thing while I do mine.  It's a simple thing I know but it's still pretty cool."
Me -
"I do, believe me.  That day you told me that when I'm around you feel like you can relax, it made me feel good.  That's something I want people I care about to always feel when they're with me."
The talk then shifted to my work schedule for the upcoming week and of course, sex.  But seriously, how awesome is it that we have this kind of relationship?  Have you ever been lucky enough to have something like this?  Do you know anyone who does?
Whether or not I'm a part of his distant future and/or he's a part of mine is a moot point.  Same with whether or not he starts seeing someone or I do.  We don't worry about it.  We've been through all of that before and still came out unscathed.
Really, it's a beautiful thing.  I'm thinking about asking him to collaborate with me on a future post - How To Achieve an Easy, Uncomplicated, No-Strings-Attached Relationship (And No One Gets Hurt.)  Or something like that.  So keep an eye out for it, because if you come to a point in your life where you decide you have had enough drama and just want to enjoy the company of someone who doesn't give you any bullshit, but gives you incredible orgasms, then it might be worth reading.