Swinging parents go to sex parties and find new partners on Tinder together to "keep marriage alive"
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An adventurous couple has told how swinging keeps their marriage alive and they love to look for dates on Tinder together.
Parents Holli and Michael Bell have an open relationship and allow each other to have sex with other people and swap partners with other couples.
They love to go to swingers parties together and they use dating apps to find new sexual partners, although they have established rules and boundaries for each other.
While their relationship habits may come as a shock to others Holli, a Playboy Radio host, says she's been empowered by her swinging lifestyle.
(Photo: News Dog Media)
(Photo: News Dog Media)
The 32-year-old, who has a 14-year-old son from a previous relationship, and 38-year-old Michael, who has a 12-year-old daughter, have been together for more than seven years.
She said: "Swinging has enhanced my life because it has allowed me to be myself and explore my own sexuality . Michael and I communicate everything without judgement and that's so liberating.
"Michael can tell me if he finds another woman attractive and vice versa. Every couple thinks about these things but it's such a rare gift to be able to share that with your partner. It's very freeing."
(Photo: News Dog Media)
(Photo: News Dog Media)
Michael said: "Swinging has strengthened our bond - I do this with Holli because I love her.
"Holli and I are emotionally monogamous with each other. We aren't looking to fall in love with anyone else but we're attracted to other people.
"We play with different couples or other single women. We have a great time on Tinder together too - learning more about each other and who we're attracted to. We've found so many new sexual partners on that app too.
"I love watching Holli's face when we're sharing experiences together. Seeing how happy it makes her is the most exciting part for me."
(Photo: News Dog Media)
(Photo: News Dog Media)
The Los Angeles couple's open marriage has had its detractors, however.
Michael said he was forced to resign from his job at a medical research company after one of the physicians learned about it.
He added: "It's a sad fact that many people understand infidelity but not open non-monogamy.
"Swinging is about honesty, not lying to your partner. We want to debunk some of the myths around our lifestyle."
Holli had a very conservative upbringing and was married to her ex-husband for ten years.
(Photo: News Dog Media)
(Photo: News Dog Media)
She had been divorced for a year when she met recently-separated Michael in September 2009 and the two instantly clicked.
Holli became even more intrigued when Michael confided in her about the swinging parties he attended.
Holli said: "He never told me I had to go with him but I was so intrigued by the lifestyle.
"I had always known I was bi-curious but when I told my ex-husband, he freaked out at the idea and I repressed those feelings.
"But Michael accepted me for who I was and at these swingers parties, it felt like were free to be yourself too. If you wanted to have sex, you could have sex. If you wanted to observe, you could watch or even be watched.
(Photo: News Dog Media)
"I asked Michael to take me to a party with him but he wanted to make sure I felt totally comfortable before we explored anything together."
After discussing it for three months, Holli felt ready to give a swingers party a try with Michael, who has been going to swingers parties since the age of 18.
He said: "It was months of talking and making sure we were on the same page before we went to our first party together.
"We discussed all our rules and boundaries as a couple beforehand."
After that initial experience, the couple started swinging more regularly and three years later, they were husband and wife.
(Photo: News Dog Media)
Holli said "At our first party together, all I did was kiss another girl in front of Michael because that was what we had discussed beforehand.
"After that first kiss, I felt excited but I wasn't ready to jump right in with the lifestyle.
"Michael and I took it slowly, initially experimenting with other women before gradually swapping partners with other couples.
"Our communication was so good and Michael and I talked about everything that we got to an amazing point where we were able to truly experiment with each other.
"Swinging has strengthened our marriage. I feel free to be me."
The pair have started a website, holliandmichael.com, where they coach other couples who want to experiment with swinging, and they're hosting a cruise for people who are curious about the lifestyle.
(Photo: News Dog Media)
Holli and Michael don't believe what they do in their private moments impacts their family any differently than what other couples do.
Michael said: "A non-swinging couple has sex with each other and there's no reason they should be discussing their sex life with their children. Same thing with us.
"If our kids found out about our lifestyle, then of course we would talk to them so they know the truth.
"Our hope is that our children learn from us open, honest communication, true love and that Holli and I are emotionally committed to each other."