All 14 sex scenes on Heated Rivalry, ranked

For months, fans of the Heated Rivalry book waited impatiently to find out if the television adaptation could possibly live up to its steamy legacy. Well, it's finally here — and great news: it does, and then some.

The rivals-to-lovers series follows the years-long romance between two top-rated hockey players: closeted Canadian player Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and bisexual (but also closeted) Russian hockey star Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). The two first meet in their rookie year, and the only thing more heated between them is their instant sexual chemistry. What follows is years of passionate secret trysts, which slowly develop into something deeper (pun intended) and romantic.

As you can imagine, there's a lot of opportunity for things to get steamy — and thankfully, the show does not shy away from showing off its stars' skin and its unapologetically gay sex and sexuality. In other words: it's hot.

But of course, not all sex scenes are created equal. Some are awkward, others passionate. So we're doing the very hard (again, pun intended) work of ranking the steamiest scenes from worst to first.

14.  Illya's inviting wank.

Episode 1 — 14:07

Ilya and Shane have chemistry from the moment they meet, a spark only heightened by their fierce competitiveness. But it's in the showers that their enemies-to-lovers arc begins to take a turn. The two catch eye-popping glimpses of one another, and after exchanging meaningful glances, Ilya drops all subtlety and starts stroking himself in invitation.

It's not long before they take their passion to a second location — namely, Shane's room… but we'll get to that soon.

13. Scott and Kip's first time.

Episode 3 — 19:23

After a meet-cute at the smoothie shop where Kip works, and Scott running into Kip literally at his catering gig, the two stop fighting the inevitable and head back to Scott's for "dinner." But the only thing that Scott wants to put in his mouth is Kip.

The two quickly make their way to the bedroom for a very steamy back-lit sexy sesh. This is followed by a sweet moment where Scott asks him to stay over. Ilya and Shane, take note!

12. May I top you?

Episode 1 — 35:55

After months apart, the two finally reunite in a hotel room, and any lingering shyness is gone. They crash into each other, kissing, and Shane once again goes down on Ilya. Once they're in bed, they talk about taking things to the next level, with Ilya asking Shane if he wants to be topped. He does — he really does.

While the timing isn't right this time (since another teammate is literally on the other side of the wall), they start planning their next rendezvous. For all the hot action this show gives, it also knows exactly how to draw things out!

11. Touch yourself.

Episode 2 — 35:04

While the sexual connection between these two is powerful, the emotional side is a bit trickier. Between being closeted, and all of Ilya's family drama back home, the two spend several months not speaking — and when they finally do get back together, there's something cold about their rendezvous.

It's still hot, especially when Ilya commands Shane to touch himself, and he obliges. The two proceed to have sex, and it's as steamy as ever… But, afterwards, even Shane notices that they didn't kiss.

10. Clap them cheeks!

Episode 4 – 2:50

We love that Heated Rivalry presents the passage of time not just with date stamps and changing seasons, but with a series of super-quick and insanely hot sex scenes.

Take, for example, how it kicks off episode 4 with a montage of vigorous sex sessions, including two quick but fairly graphic clips of Ilya clapping Shane's cheeks. And yes, we were applauding along!

9. Shane and Rose… and Ilya.

Episode 4 – 41:19

Shane strikes up a relationship with a famous actress named Rose. He's enamored, and the press goes wild. When it's finally time to get down in the bedroom, he goes for it — yet you can see the confusion and sadness in Shane's eyes, which is real, but not hot. However, this is intercut between a scene with Ilya in the shower having a solo sesh, which is incredibly hot.

This is a weird one, and yet, we liked it. It also doesn't hurt that Rose is played by total smoke show Sophie Nélisse.

8. This shower is extra steamy.

Episode 4 – 3:00

While we could have watched this for an hour — and maybe we have, NO JUDGING — this quick but oh-so-steamy (literally) scene sees Ilya servicing Shane in the shower.

He ate, no crumbs. This view is lovely.

7. Shane takes a call.

Episode 6 - 21:09

In the season finale, Shane and Ilya head out (for some head) in privacy in Shane's cabin (at "The Cottage" that fans have long been raving about).

There, they promise to be real about what they are thinking and feeling. But when Shane takes a call from Hayden, Ilya takes that opportunity to tease, arouse, and finally finish Shane while he's still on the call.

6. Cohabitation bliss.

Episode 3 — 26:53

Following a very intense morning-after chat — where Scott explains how much he wants Kip (yay!) but how he can't come out (boo!) — the two keep the romance going in secret. This sweet honeymoon phase includes homemade pasta and one very steamy sex scene.

These vers kings are showing body-ody-ody, in cohabitation, and thrusting bliss.

5. Shane bottoms from the top.

Episode 4 – 12:25

While so far Shane is strictly giving bottom, here, we see him bottom from the top!

This scene takes place when Ilya invites Shane back to his place for the first time. At first, Shane wants to talk, but Ilya is just itching to get busy. Guess who wins? So, they head to the bedroom, and Shane hops on top. We love to see it — representation matters.

4. Ilya and Shane's first time.

Episode 1 — 18:00

After making his intentions clear in the shower, Ilya meets up with Shane in his hotel room. Things turn hot and heavy immediately, with Shane going down on him. The two strip down, and after Shane admits this is his first time with a man, they take turns giving each other oral.

They part on good — if casual — terms, but it’s clear the experience is pretty life-changing for Shane. It's sweet and awkward, and yes, very hot.

3. Shane gets topped.

Episode 2 — 8:25

After months of texting, sexting, and a frustrating rain check later, Ilya and Shane finally get their long-awaited moment together. Ilya meets Shane at his house, and after some teasing, they head to the bathroom for Shane to finally get topped. It starts off sweet and gentle and builds into something intensely passionate and hot, culminating with both men climaxing together.

That alone puts this scene at the top of the list — but it's really the sweet, tender kisses afterwards, a first for these two, that make this moment so special.

2. Shane and Ilya make love at the cottage.

Episode 6 - 32:06

All season long, we watched our beloved Shane and Ilya bang in various ways, places, positions, and passions. But for the first time, in the finale episode, we see these two make love.

It's not as wild as some previous scenes, it's not as fraught or as raw, and yet the sweetness of seeing Ilya gently topping Shane after laying their hearts bare to one another… absolute cinema.

1. The infamous 'tuna melt' scene.

Episode 4 – 21:30

Not only is this scene absolute fire — the chemistry, the passion, the emotion, the frotting (because that's what's happening here, right? Right?!) — but what really makes it a standout scene is the moment when they finally call each other by their first names.

Yes, it ends on a bittersweet note, but lesbians aren't the only ones who get to yearn!