One of the reasons Bridgerton does so well is because my girl, Shonda, has mastered the art of the female gaze. When it comes to the sex scenes, she gives the girls exactly what they’re looking for: passion, attention, and obsessive love. But the true romance girlies know that it’s not just the sex scenes that get us going (even though, wow) — it’s the scenes where the characters manage to make us feel hot and bothered without even so much as a kiss.

Think of everything before a sex scene as visual foreplay — and (hopefully) we all know how important foreplay is. Before I want the satisfaction of watching my favorite Bridgerton characters going absolutely feral on each other, I want build-up. I want the push-and-pull — because it’s these non-sex scenes that make the actual sex scenes so much better.

And Bridgerton never disappoints when it comes to the build-up. I mean, the characters usually don’t even kiss until the end of the season. But it’s all the little scenes that lead up to that kiss that make it spectacular anyway. Here’s a ranking of Bridgerton‘s sexiest non-sex scenes that’ll make you want to hide your blush behind your hand fan.

14. Horse Races

Okay, stay with me for a moment here. I know nothing about this scene comes off as sexy at first look — the hundreds of people, the screaming, the fact that there are literal horses everywhere. But this scene deserves a spot on the list because not only does it show the competitive tug-of-war Kate and Anthony have going on, but seeing them let loose and yell is a little bit sexy, don’t you think? Very feral, idc.

13. “Fix My Cuff”

Listen, this is the Regency era, so we’re not gonna get too much action before the action starts, but in this world… having someone fix your cuff? Horny.

12. The Ruse Begins

When Simon and Daphne agree to trick everyone into thinking they’re pursuing each other, they do this super intimate dance. And even though they think they’re pretending, we can all just feel the sexual tension between them. Ugh.

11. Anthony’s Wet Shirt

I mean, do I even need to explain this one?

10. Passing Hands

At this point, you’ve probably learned that the almost-touch is just as sexy (if not more) as the actual touch. You can just feel the longing and desire through the screen.

9. The Dropped Bangle

Okay, as uncomfortable as this scene makes me (I mean, Anthony is at his own damn wedding), this still deserves a spot on the list because it shows just how insanely feral Anthony is for Kate. Even though he’s in the middle of his literal vows, he’s watching Kate so intently that when she drops her bangle, he bends down to put it back on her… right in front of his goddamn bride! Douchey? Oh, 100%. But, also, if I was Kate, I’d fuck him right there.

8. The Almost Kiss

The soft rain in the back. Kate looking like an actual goddess in the moonlight, wearing her nightie. How they keep staring at each other’s lips but still don’t kiss. Perfection.

7. “Call Me Simon”

Up until this point, Daphne and Simon had called each other “your Grace” and “Miss Bridgerton.” So when Simon was dancing with Daphne, holding her close, and decided to say, “Call me Simon,” my legs quivered a bit!

6. Intimate Painting

This scene literally makes me internally scream. Daphne and Simon are admiring a painting together that she calls “intimate,” and he’s so moved by how she understands him and the art he loves that you can see it in his eyes. They haven’t admitted to each other that they’re basically in love, but you can see their hands try to reach out to touch one another. You’d think it was just a cute scene, but my God, they are so horny for each other it’s palpable. 

5. Hunting

I don’t care how cliche it is. I will always swoon at a scene where a man tries to help a woman do something by standing behind her and showing her how. It’s the only kind of mansplaining I can deal with (of course, he has to be a man I actually like). But in this scene where Anthony is trying to help Kate aim her gun, there are close-ups of his hand grazing hers and him breathing down her neck. I’m like the gun ready to explode, tbh.

4. The Bee

This scene has so many things that add to how sexy it is: There’s the desperation in Anthony’s eyes to make sure Kate’s okay, the audience realizing how much he cares about her (considering the backstory of how his father died because of a bee sting), and how Kate can calm Anthony down in mere moments. And, of course, let’s not forget the whole putting-his-hand-on-her-chest-and-staring-into-each-other’s-eyes. They’re oozing all of these feelings for each other that they just can’t do anything with.

3. The Sniff

EXCUSE ME? When I saw this scene, I couldn’t even contain myself. This man is so fucking feral he literally sniffs the air after Kate walks by. Are you kidding me?? THIS is what I want!

2. Daphne Discovers Masturbation

I know it looks like our girl is extremely uncomfortable (which she kinda is), but believe me, this is a face of pure horniness (and a little bit of confusion). She asks Simon to tell her about what happens between a wife and a husband, and he tells her about touching herself. Watching him look right into her eyes as he tells her to touch herself between her thighs… I’m making the same face as her right now.

1. “The Object Of All My Desires”

THIS. FUCKING. SCENE. It starts with Kate and Anthony acting like they disdain each other and then turns into the most romantic monologue about how Anthony literally cannot keep himself away from her. And even though they still don’t actually kiss, you can tell literally everything in their bodies is screaming out for each other.