SOME couples go out to dinner on the weekend. Alice and Eric go to swingers parties and have sex with strangers. I slipped off in my lunch break to go lingerie shopping. I needed a hot new outfit for the weekend. Some people love latex and leather but not me so much. I have a penchant for stay-up stockings too. As I slide my hands over the new bra I feel a thrill of electricity for the coming weekend.

There are literally a bazillion and still counting ways you can spice up your relationship. Some of them are simple enough to fathom, but others may be a bit more difficult to visualize doing -- like, say, bringing a third party into the mix on the regular. Too wild?

No matter what you call it — an open relationship , swinging, polyamory — one thing is definitely certain: Non-monogamous relationships are a very complex subject and no two couples are the same. But regardless of the specifics of the arrangement, communication and consent are vital , and it's important to discuss your limits, and to know your partner's. Consider these people's stories about what happened when they opened up their relationships — the good, the bad, the sexy, and the shocking.