Karen, My H used to do that too..sometimes still does. I started handling it like this: I'd turn around and make eye contact and say "You think my butt looks hot..is that what you're saying?" He'd reply "yep!"
I can't convey tone of voice here but the whole thing was very playful and sweet, not me busting his chops or nagging him for not saying it 'right'.
The key was that I did this every time and he was eventually house trained, er, I mean he eventually learned how I prefer my compliments to be packaged. I sorta paved the way for him to be able to directly say what he was thinking. It didn't get heavy with me lecturing or anything, it stayed light and breezy and yet still gave him a clear message that I wanted, needed and craved to hear his true thoughts (her ass looks delicious) rather than some school boy joke.
