BY: Monique Gilmore Scott

A couple of weeks ago, a girlfriend in Texas suggested I become a “sex” consultant for a company as a way to earn extra income. I laughed at the thought of me sharing “sexual insight” with women about their intimate lives as I am tired enough trying to keep my own romance-life zesty.

After thinking about it for a few days, I posed the idea to dear hubby and asked him what he thought about me becoming a “sex” consultant for a party company? He paused for a few seconds then shook his head, no. Actually, I was more relieved than I realized as I knew there was no way I could tote a romance kit around town doing in-home parties. Furthermore, where would I hide my “romance” inventory to keep my curious 8 and 5 year olds from stumbling upon my stash? Was this a real concern? Unlike my bag of family-fun games, where my children go into the hallway closet to grab board games any time they want to play, the sex bag of goodies would be too risky. Imagine for a moment my kids accidentally whipping out a feather teaser or more embarrassing a purple vibe.

That aside, deep down I had to be honest, confront me and ask myself, “What’s the big deal, really? Am I afraid to learn more than the standard, traditional romantic ways? It hit me that at my tender age, I was indeed fairly naïve and reserved on account of my religious upbringing, cause anything more than a few sexual positions, candles and music seemed to be deemed worldly and vile. Well, by golly, I decided it was time to become unshackled and liberate my mind - emancipate my hang ups all in the name of my marriage bed.

Armed with the power of the Internet, I began a quest to find a website where I could explore and become more knowledgeable about romancing my mate with the varied items that accompany said endeavor. My pursuit was not uninhibited as I kept bumping into websites with naked people with explicit positions highlighted on the front page. Eventually, I was directed to www.itslifeitslove.com , a classy, chic-looking, catch-you-off-guard website that offered enough product s for me to explore and investigate without the XXX rated aura.

At the subtle website, I learned that there are more items to help initiate a romantic evening with my husband then the traditional, yet humdrum mellow music and fragrant candles. The appropriate tilted website lured me with it’s elegance, allowing me to explore by placing an order for the Chocolate Paint Box kit, with brush included (uh oh), some body soufflés, (you read right), a game called 101 nights (I’m sure the hubby will dig that number) along with other romance enriching items.

I grinned the entire way through the online shopping aisle, filling my cart past my self-imposed limits, while in the comfort and privacy of my home and with my car parked in the garage with a full tank of gas. (At $4.11/gallon).

This entire experience is going to be such a surprise for dear hubby and fun for us. After pressing that order button I felt empowered-moving past my conservative ways and inhibitions. Exhale. My order is due to arrive any time, any day now and I will keep you posted. Wait, I think I hear the delivery truck pulling up. Stay tuned…

Yours Truly,

Unshackled.

Monique Gilmore is an award-winning romance author of over 300,000 in print romance novels (BET Books). She is a willing wife and a work-from-home mom of two busy beauties, AKA, children. When not writing, she is an on-air radio personality and spends time promoting her new web community: http://divastalksports.ning.com.