The pat answer to this question has to be: S–E-X. Isn’t that always what they want? But that implies that the question calls only for a single response. Come on, despite popular thinking to the contrary, men are much more civilized than that. It’s not all about libido. We’ve got some renaissance men out there, and their needs are greater than just physical pleasure between two consenting adults.
So, taking out the sexual aspect of it, what else do boys want? That depends on the boy or man you ask. In general, they want the same thing that women want, but not necessarily in the same order.
Trust: If you don’t have that between you, stop right there. The relationship cannot work. It’s even more important than love.
Compassion: You need to be sympathetic to his needs, not “dis” them because his needs don’t have the same importance to you as they do to him.
Faith: It’s not the same thing as trust. Faith is believing when common sense suggests otherwise… okay, I admit, I paraphrased Fred’s dialogue from Miracle on 34th Street, but I love that line! Faith develops with the passage of time. It’s alright to be skeptical early in the relationship -- that keeps the two of you on your toes.
Playfulness: Whether it’s your upbringing, your personality, your joie de vivre, your cynical or sarcastic way of looking at things, all of these contribute to what makes you playful. Without it, a relationship is just too dull.
Integrity: Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t get caught in even a little white lie; it’s demeaning to you both.
Passion: Embrace everything you do with fervor and whole-heartedly. If you find you’re not putting any effort into your relationship, it’s time for a re-evaluation.
Love: Everyone needs love, despite individual claims to the contrary. Physically and emotionally, it’s necessary for the continued existence of the species.
Attention: Isn’t it always nice to have someone attend to your every need and want, to focus only on you. Well, once in a while, it’s nice. In abundance, it can get a little claustrophobic. Keep that in mind.
Compatibility: If you don’t share anything in common, are you willing to go through a relationship in a constant learning curve? That’s not to say that if there’s no compatibility that the relationship will fail. Opposites do attract, after all.
Excitement: This isn’t a full time requirement; excitement should occur seconds before you see each other, when your heart starts to race, and you can’t keep the smile off your face when you finally see each other. If you find instead that you’re frowning or rolling your eyes when you spot each other, then its time to move on.
Character: In the old days, we used to say that a guy looked for a girl with a good personality. Now, it’s a girl with character. Something that she’s got going for her when she’s got nothing else. And no, a girl can have or be a character and be attractive; it’s not mutually exclusive.
Respect: Without this, the relationship will deteriorate. It can’t be phony, people can see through this.
Spontaneity: No one wants to be predictable, or be in a relationship where you know exactly what’s going to happen every second of every day. Surprises! That’s what keeps it going, that and the anticipation of the next one.
Now, all of these are only the emotional aspects of what a guy wants, and as you can see they are exactly what a girl wants. Of course, each guy is going to have physical requirements as well. Those requirements are as diverse as the emotional ones. Women come in all shapes and sizes, colors and ages, and usually, there’s someone for everyone. If you’re really lucky, that someone will be the someone, and you won’t have to look again.