Want to be the best your lover has ever had? There's no surefire secret to being great in bed, but great sex has nothing to do with predictability. Instead, great sex has everything to do with enthusiasm, communication and lots of foreplay.

The importance of foreplay can't be understated; largely mental, foreplay is about setting a mood, about turning your lover on, so it begins hours before. It's less in the things you say and more in how you say them. It's in the way you look at your lover and the messages or pictures you can send by phone. In short, it's all about communication.

There is nothing hotter than an enthusiastic and vocal lover who praises you and guides you to getting him or her off, so provide encouragement in the form of setting an example. And never, ever fake an orgasm — you're only perpetuating bad sex.

Keeping the above in mind, try a few of these tips below with your lover. Remember, a willingness to learn and explore will go a long way to making you unforgettable... and irresistible.

Have a night of mutual masturbation
This can be particularly hot because you're taking a private, personal act and sharing it with your lover. Get really close and teach each other how you like to be touched and exactly what feels good to you, and watch for opportunities to "lend a hand" as you go.

Try using erotic film as research together
Though it's easy to find a ready supply of porn, the real value is in adult instructional DVDs. You could stand to learn new techniques or variations on your favourites, and you'll learn first hand what gets your lover really hot. Then, why not try it out?

Play with toys and sexual enhancements
Toys come in all shapes and sizes, and are made in many different ways for use by men and women. Men and women both have numerous sensitive areas, that affect different people in different ways, and it doesn't take a genius to figure that if you hit more than one (or two or three) at a time, the overall effect can be explosive.

Do your anatomy homework
Sure, men and women each have a few obvious erogenous zones, but do your homework and find a few more. As a tip, explore each other with your hands first and figure out the subtleties of your lover's body so that you can take it up a notch when the lights go out.

Compliment each other's bodies
It's no mystery that many women are hesitant to be seen naked, and go to a lot of effort to take good care of their bodies. But men are often just as selfconscious — about size, shape, skill and more. Pay a compliment and let your lover know you appreciate the view.

Everybody loves oral sex
When you commit to going down on your lover, forget everything you know from before and just explore with your hands and mouth. Recent studies indicate that women love oral sex just as much as men do, so take your time.

Don't just thrust away
You'll get more out of intercourse with a little control; rotating your hips and twisting your body slightly while in the moment can really turn up the intensity. So whether she's bent over in front of you, or he's lying underneath you, slow down, explore the space and savour the moment.

Keep kissing during sex
Kissing is possibly the most powerful aphrodisiac there is — a good kiss can catch anyone off guard and instantly set the mood. It makes good sense to keep that particular fire going during sex, even if all you can reach are each other's backs, or legs, or... whatever.

Make her come at least once before intercourse
Though couples should be mutually giving, this is one area where it's good to be a little lopsided. Have you ever heard a woman complain about having too many orgasms? So take good care of her: in addition to ensuring she has a great time, you're ensuring she is lubricated and ready for intercourse… and she'll take good care of you, too.