Trick or treat

It's two days until Halloween, and we all know what that means -- Greenville is going to be full of people dressed up from anything ranging from ghouls and goblins to sexy cowgirls and police officers.

For a lot of us, the big concern with Halloween is the price of a costume that you are only going to wear one time. It's hard to spend $50 to $100 on something you can't justify wearing again. But who said you can only dress up once a year?

Why not give your lover his own private viewing of your costume? Role playing and dressing up can be very exciting for both men and women.

For many women, there is nothing more exciting than seeing how badly your partner wants you. Nothing makes you feel sexier than when your man can't keep his hands off of you. Men are extremely visual creatures, so surprising him by slipping into something sexy will engage his primary sense, making him want you more than ever.

It has been my experience that guys find it sexy when girls wear their clothes -- or at least their T-shirts and boxers. So it can be rather provocative to pick a costume that coincides with an activity that your lover is involved in. There are sexy hunter costumes, racecar drivers, firefighters, pretty much anything you can think of.

Or match your own ambitions with your costume. If you're student teaching this semester, get a schoolteacher costume and give him a lesson on how to please you. Or if nursing is your forte, try on a nurse's outfit and give him a full-on physical.

Sometimes it's fun to go on a whim when deciding what you think your lover will enjoy the most. A friend of mine purchased a French maid costume, after her boyfriend jokingly said that she should clean the house naked. Suffice to say, when he came home he was rather pleased with both a clean apartment and a scantily clad "maid."

And dressing up isn't just limited to the ladies. It can be very erotic when a man dons a costume as well.

Vampires are a very popular right now with the ladies. Cosmo stated that one of the hot things to be this year is a "New Moon" character, in other words, a vampire. So gentlemen, trust me, if your lover is a Twilight follower or a Sookie Stackhouse fan, she will love to see her man decked out as Edward Cullen or Eric Northman.

Another good idea for the fellas is Indiana Jones. There is just something about a virile adventurer that causes many women to go weak in the knees.

One of the sexiest nights I ever had was when I was surprised by "Jack Sparrow," equipped with the wig and sword. He had even mastered all of Jack's mannerisms. So not only was he satisfying my desire to be with a "dirty" and "deviant" pirate, he gave me a night with the closest experience to Johnny Depp I'm sure I'll ever get -- and I've never met a woman who wouldn't want to feel like she was hooking up with Depp!

We all appreciate a little variety. I can't tell you how many time I have heard the line, "I'm looking for something strange." Well, when you're in a committed relationship you don't have the option for strange, but dressing up can add that illusion. People get bored -- it's sad, but true. And mixing things up with costumes or role-playing can help prevent boredom from setting in.

Dressing up can truly add a little spice to a long-term relationship that has become a little too comfortable. I know you remember the times when you couldn't keep your hands off of each other and it took all the willpower that you had to stop yourself from ravishing your lover 24/7. Slipping into a sexy costume and surprising your partner when he gets home from class or work would definitely ignite that old spark. The two of you will be going at it like you were when you first got together.

Plus, it's just fun to pretend and be someone else. Instead of being Matt and Mary you can be Han Solo and Princess Leia -- the only way that you can save the Republic is with Han's blaster.

One thing to keep in mind when you're dressing up or role playing is that you have to be confident.

Barry McCarthy, Ph.D., a psychologist and sex therapist in Washington, D.C., explains, "The theme of sexual desires is that you want to get out and play. You don't want to be intimidated."

So don't be shy -- your lover will be so excited by your gesture that you'll have nothing in the world to worry about.

And if you feel that dressing up or role playing is too extreme for you, then traditional lingerie or even a simple blindfold can still add a great deal of excitement to your tryst.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.

"Pirates and Salty Wenches" is for entertainment purposes only. Vivian Stockton is not a certified sex columnist. She can only offer advice of an experienced college student. Please direct all comments, questions or concerns to the Editor in Chief, at editor@theeastcarolinian.com