‘Heated Rivalry’: A Guide to Shane & Ilya’s Spicy Book Scenes Before Season 1

It won’t be long until Heated Rivalry arrives in all its sexy glory. Creator Jacob Tierney has already revealed that the gay hockey romance series, which charts rival players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov’s (Connor Storrie) years-long secret relationship, doesn’t hold back on the spice.

In fact, Tierney said he managed to adapt nearly every sex scene from Rachel Reid’s book, putting three of them in each episode. “Because of the way the story is laid out, it takes place over eight years, and these are people who learn about each other through f**king, so the sex didn’t feel gratuitous,” he told Teen Vogue. “This is how they communicate: They meet up three times a year and have sex until they hit a point where they’re like, ‘Oh God, we keep doing this. We must have feelings for each other.’”

That should give you some idea of what to expect from the show, but what exactly are you in for? Swooon has revisited the book ahead of Heated Rivalry Season 1 and created a chapter-by-chapter guide to Hollanov’s spiciest scenes. Book fans, that means you can also revisit this page as you watch the show, and figure out just how book-accurate Season 1 is. Without further ado:

[Warning: The below contains spoilers for Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid.]

Prologue

Heated Rivalry starts off with a bang, literally. Our first introduction to Shane and Ilya takes place in 2016, eight years after they first met. After Shane’s team loses to Ilya’s, he drives himself to his condo that nobody knows about — aside from Ilya, of course. They make time for a passionate hookup, during which Ilya makes sure to get some snarky digs in. Afterward, Shane contemplates ending things and selling the building, but he knows he won’t be able to.

Chapter 4

July 2010 is when Shane and Ilya give into their sexual tension for the first time. After they film a commercial together, the two find themselves in the locker room showers at the same time. Naturally, they check each other out. Shane is mortified when he’s caught, while Ilya couldn’t be more shameless.

Their interest in each other now known, Shane and Ilya arrange to meet back at Shane’s hotel room. At this point, Shane hasn’t had any experience with men, unlike Ilya, but he overcomes his nerves and goes down on his rival. Ilya returns the favor, but not before he pretends to leave Shane hanging. (Classic Ilya.)

Chapter 6

The following January is when Shane and Ilya reunite for an All-Star Game. It’s in the middle of the skills competition when Ilya whispers his hotel room number into Shane’s ear. Shane’s scared of getting caught, but that doesn’t stop him from knocking. Shane goes down on Ilya, who is thinking about how much he “hates” Shane. Ilya wants to go all the way, but Shane doesn’t think it’s the place for it. After making plans to meet after their next game in Montréal, Shane and Ilya pick up where they left off in the shower.

Chapter 7

Two weeks later, Shane goes to Ilya’s hotel room, and Ilya takes Shane apart, just like he’d hoped. Even though it’s their first time, Shane and Ilya are… compatible, to say the least. Shane realizes that no one has ever made him feel like Ilya does. Still, their steamy encounter isn’t all romantic. Shane’s world is rocked when all is said and done, but Ilya leaves immediately.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9, which takes place at the end of 2013, details their next hookup. Their teams are facing off against each other again in Montréal, and before the game, Ilya gets under Shane’s skin by sending him a suggestive text. After, Shane instructs Ilya to meet him at the building from the prologue. It’s worth mentioning that Shane bought an entire building to keep his meetings with Ilya under the radar. (Unfortunately, Tierney said the “f**k apartment” isn’t in the show due to budget constraints.)

They only have an hour together, during which Shane manages to get a blowjob in. (And Ilya doesn’t even need to return the favor, if you catch our drift.)

Sabrina Lantos

Chapter 11

Las Vegas NHL Awards, you’ll always be famous. After Ilya pushes Shane away at the Russia Olympics, they don’t talk for six months. Flashing forward to October 2016, they’re both up for MVP, but Ilya, fresh off a Stanley Cup win, gets it. Afterward, they meet in a hotel room, where Shane “congratulates” Ilya by showing off for him. Ilya watches Shane from across the room until Ilya can’t keep his hands off Shane anymore.

Chapter 13

A month later, they meet at Ilya’s apartment. They’ve moved their hookups there instead of in hotels, which makes Shane worry about things getting too personal. Unsurprisingly, their night together does have more romantic undertones, with Ilya calling Shane “sweetheart” while they’re doing the deed. Ilya then shocks Shane by asking him to stay the night and making him food. (A tuna melt, of all things.)

They engage in some couple-like behavior, which Shane naturally freaks out about before they get frisky again. That’s when they call each other by their first names for the first time. (Yep, it took that long.)

Chapter 18

Chapter 13 is a major turning point, but Shane and Ilya also start to push each other away out of fear. Between then and Chapter 18, Shane begins dating a famous actress, and he plays on an All-Star team with Ilya a little while later. That’s when they almost admit their feelings for each other and acknowledge that something more is going on. They don’t hook up afterwards, though, and cuddle instead.

Chapter 18 does include a brief sex scene — they break their “no hookups before playing against each other” rule — but it focuses more on building up Shane and Ilya’s relationship outside of sex.

Chapter 20

Shane and Ilya pop their phone sex cherries in Chapter 20. When Ilya goes to Russia after his dad dies, Shane supports him by texting and calling regularly. After they get off, Ilya admits he’s in love with Shane in Russian, so Shane is none the wiser.

Chapter 23

Once Ilya decides to stop running away from his feelings and go to Shane’s cottage — thanks, Scott Hunter! — the two have a steamy reunion. It doesn’t take long for them to break in Shane’s couch, and then, they take it to the bedroom. Ilya admits that he’s wanted to have Shane in his own bed for years, which surprises Shane.

Chapter 25

The cottage sees a lot of action. When Shane’s teammate/best friend gives him a call, Ilya decides to put his mouth to work while Shane tries to have a conversation. A little while later, Ilya and Shane make long-term plans for their relationship, leading to a love confession at last. Naturally, things escalate, with Ilya making Shane work himself up before he takes over.

Chapter 26

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One chapter later, Shane and Ilya engage in some light exhibitionism on the cottage’s dock. A short while later, they’re making out when Shane’s dad spots them. He’s lucky he didn’t arrive earlier.

Chapter 27

It’s been a long journey, but we’ve reached the last sex scene of Heated Rivalry. Ilya and Shane make a plan to be in each other’s lives publicly, while still keeping their relationship a secret. Ilya will switch teams and move to Ottawa, they’ll start a charity together, and tell the world that they’re friends. While Shane’s trying to ask him about the plan, Ilya interrupts by dropping to his knees. Naturally.

So, which steamy scene are you most looking forward to seeing in the show? Let us know in the comments below!

Heated Rivalry, Season 1 Premiere, November 28, Crave & HBO Max