David,
You can be both - and relationships, we teach, are best to start by being a lover first and then working in provider values.
You become a lover so that women know that you will leave them if they don't provide sex, compliance, etc.
A relationship ( a love relationship) will not thrive without you also being a provider, though the difference is you don't provide objects in exchange for sex --- which is how the provider acquires sex.
Basically, by starting as a lover you teach her to understand that she has to give you sex in order for you to stay with her. By introducing provider features as well: you're showing her that you care about her for more than sex but not providing things in exchange for sex.
Best of both worlds - and it's no coincidence that some of the best relationships start off as a FWB one
-Richard