9 big secret of male arousal: no matter how well you think you know your way around a guy's body, you can't completely bliss him out until you clue in to these little-known pleasure principles. Allow us to explain.(LOVE AND LUST)

THE RIGHT RUB

When giving him a massage, work your fingers in a zigzag pattern to electrify a greater swath of nerve endings.

* The average guy is pretty easy to read in bed--he springs to attention so you know he's aroused, and his can't-miss-it orgasm leaves no doubt that he's reached his pleasure destination. But his body doesn't always send such blatant signals. In fact, sometimes his triggers and responses can be downright subtle. That doesn't mean they don't count, however.

"Being aware of the slightest physiological changes that he's experiencing during sex is crucial to intensifying it for him," says Irwin Goldstein, MD, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital, in San Diego. "The more you know, the more you can please him."

Since we're sure you want to make that happen, we've spelled out nine things you don't know about male pleasure--from the spot he really needs you to touch more frequently to the very surprising way he judges how good the experience is for you. Once you clue in to these sexual truths, you'll be able to satisfy him like never before.

Your Body "Flaws" Turn Him On

You know your guy is visual and loves your naked form. But there's a point when he's most likely to see your bod through rose-colored glasses. During the middle of intercourse, aka the plateau or excitement stage, "men experience a boost in serotonin [a mood enhancer], which acts as a buffer, lowering the odds that he'll notice slight imperfections," says Rallie McAllister, MD, author of The Busy Couple's Guide to Great Sex.