For months, fans of the Heated Rivalry book have been waiting 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 new 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.
12. Illya’s invitation wank
Illya and Shane in the shower
Crave
Episode 1 — 14:07
Ilya and Shane have instant 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 first 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.
11. Scott and Kip's first time
Scott and Kip the bedroom
Crave
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. Illya and Shane, take note!
10. May I top you?
Shane and Ilya in bed
Crave
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!
9. Touch yourself
Ilya watches Shane from across the room
Crave
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 notes, they didn’t kiss.
8. Clap them cheeks!
Shane and Ilya.
Crave
Episode 4 – 2:50
We love that this show 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 four with a montage of vigorous sex sessions, including two quick but fairly graphic clips of Illya clapping Shane’s cheeks. And yes, we were applauding along!
7. Shane and Rose … and Illya
Rose and Shane and Ilya.
Crave
Episode 4 – 41:19
Shane strikes up a relationship with a famous actress named Rose. He’s enamored, and the press goes wild, but 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 Illya 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 smokeshow Sophie Nélisse.
6. This shower is extra steamy
Shane in the shower.
Crave
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 Illya servicing Shane in the shower. He ate, no crumbs. This view is lovely.
5. Cohabitation bliss
Scott and Kip in bed
Crave
Episode 3 — 26:53
After 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 and in cohabitation and thrusting bliss.
4. Shane bottoms from the top
Shane and Ilya kissing.
Crave
Episode 4 – 12:25
While so far Shane is strictly giving bottom, here we see him bottom from the top when Illya invites Shane back to his place for the first time. At first, Shane wants to talk, but Illya 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.
3. Ilya and Shane’s first time
Ilya and Shane
Crave
Episode 1 — 18:00
After making his intentions clear in the shower, Ilya meets up with Shane in his hotel room, and 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.
2. Shane gets topped
Shane in bed
Crave
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 scene so special.
1. The infamous “tuna melt” scene
Shane and Ilya on the couch.
Crave
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 this scene a standout 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!
