Just the simple act of talking about our day with our mates brings us closer together. This allows us to connect with our partners, and provides us with a sense security and well-being. It also allows us to vent - relieving tension and stress. This can also facilitate communicating deeper thoughts and emotions which helps us to identify problems and concerns within our relationships which, if left unchecked, could turn into major issues. This deeper communication also helps us to grow closer and enables us to build strong and lasting bonds.
Communication is intimacy.
Many confuse intimacy with sex. Although by definition, being intimate with someone can refer to having sexual contact or sexual relations - however, true intimacy is the close personal relationship you have with another. It's the quality, quantity, and depth of our knowledge of another. To me, sex isn't true intimacy, but rather one of the many bi-product thereof. Therefore, if sex and romance are lacking in your relationship, consider how much time you spend really connecting with your mate.