Take sex to a deeper level: indulging in an intensely intimate carnal connection bonds you tighter to your guy ... and boosts your body Here's how to make all that good stuff happen.(LOVE AND LUST)

Animalistic sack session belong waaay up on every Cosmo girl's gotta-have-it list. But Slow, soulful encounters shouldn't get second billing just because they don't leave cracks in the bedroom walls. "'This kind of sex is deeper than connecting physically," says New York City sex therapist Joy Davidson, PhD, author of Fearless Sex. "It's about losing yourself in the moment and bonding emotionally as well." So do yourselves a favor and, some nights, put the following soulful-sex advice into action.

Prolong Preplay This kind of carrot connection isn't about insta-orgasm. "It's about savoring every touch and sensation, which magnifies the physical and emotional experience," says Calgary, Canada, sexologist Trina Bead, DHS. It also results in a bigger payoff when you do hit the big O. "The sexual tension of anticipation leads to a more intense climax," says Laura Berman, PhD, author of The Passion Prescription: 10 Weeks to Your Best Sex Ever.

To keep yourselves from sprinting to the finish line, lie in bed just kissing and caressing. "This mutual stimulation puts you in a meditative state, allowing you to zero in on each sensation," says Davidson. Treat him to a tantalizing experience by touching him from head to toe. "Becoming familiar with the details of his anatomy lets you mesh on a higher sensual level," says Berman.

So let your hands glide down his spine. Run your fingers along the crease where his thigh meets his groin. Then let him navigate your randy regions too. "Uncovering pleasure points specific to your bodies is like a secret the two of you share," says Davidson. "It's another exclusive facet of your relationship."

Breathe in Sync

It may sound like a lot of hot air, but breathing in unison can make you both feel totally connected. "When you are so focused on getting into the same rhythm, you enter a near trancelike state," says Bead. "It takes you into the 'zone,' where you're highly aware of your guy, and your external environment seems to fade to black."

To synchronize your breathing, get into a body-to-body position, such as spooning or coital alignment. Or sit nose-to-nose with your legs wrapped around each other and your hands on each other's chests so you can feel your heartbeats. Then inhale and exhale, slowly and deliberately, paying special attention to your man's pace as you caress and kiss. "Breathing in tandem helps your excitement levels rise at the same rate too," says Bead. "It makes you feel physically melded."