If you're a fan of Heated Rivalry, you know the scene. Episode 2. The chair drag. Ilya pulling that chair right up to the bed where Shane is lying, telling him to touch himself while he watches. It’s hot for obvious reasons.
It’s also accidentally a pretty good lesson in orgasm science.
At Lioness, we analyze real arousal and orgasm data from thousands of users with ourLioness Smart Vibrator, the world's first and only vibrator that measure pelvic floor contractions. When sessions are tagged as, “mutual masturbation” (partners touching themselves in front of each other), the difference versus the baseline solo sessions is not subtle.
What the Lioness data shows about mutual masturbation
• More orgasms per session: 2.0 vs 1.1 → +0.9 orgasms (~+82%)
• Much longer sessions overall: ~20m51s vs ~7m48s → +13m03s (~+167%)
• Longer orgasms: 56.3s vs 45.9s → +10.4s (~+23%)
• Stronger peak contractions during the orgasm: 86.2 gF vs 56.1 gF → +30.1 gF (~+54%)
• Multiple‑orgasm rate: 17.6% vs 12.6% → +5.0 percentage points (~+40% relative)
• Higher star rating: 4.4 vs 3.4 → +1.0 star
In plain terms: mutual masturbation shows up as a “longer build, bigger payoff” pattern in our data. Compared to baseline sessions, people aren’t just finishing more often, they’re spending more time in the experience, reaching orgasm more times per session, and reporting noticeably higher satisfaction.
Credit: HBO Max
On the physiological side, orgasms also trend longer and peak contractions trend stronger, with a higher share of sessions ending in multiple orgasms. Taken together, it suggests mutual masturbation isn’t just a different vibe; it’s a format that reliably correlates with more time, more intensity, and better-rated outcomes.
These aren't small improvements. These are game-changing differences in sexual satisfaction.
What research says about mutual masturbation
The academic literature points in the same general direction: mutual masturbation is commonly practiced and tends to be associated with sexual satisfaction and positive feelings within relationships. One recent paper (Kılıç et al., 2023) reports that roughly half of participants engaged in mutual masturbation in the prior two weeks and found recent mutual masturbation was positively associated with sexual satisfaction.
And it makes sense when you zoom out to the bigger picture: for many people with vulvas, orgasm during partnered sex often depends on clitoral stimulation. In a large U.S. study (Herbenick et al., 2018), 18.4% of women reported intercourse alone was sufficient for orgasm, while 36.6% reported clitoral stimulation was necessary during intercourse. Mutual masturbation is basically a direct route to the stimulation method that works without pretending penetration has to do all the heavy lifting.
Why the Heated Rivalry “chair scene” works
You're Teaching Without Talking
Some people find it difficult to narrate what they want in bed in real time. Mutual masturbation solves that by replacing verbal precision with demonstration. Rhythm, pressure, speed, placement, pauses. Your partner can see what your words usually fail to capture.
In sex therapy contexts, partner‑involved masturbation is sometimes recommended for exactly this reason: it’s a way to show, not just tell.
The Anticipation Factor
Mutual masturbation often stretches the runway. You’re aroused, watching, feeling turned on, and delaying full contact. In the data, that shows up as longer sessions and longer time‑to‑orgasm patterns compared to baseline. In real life, it often feels like: “I can’t wait to touch you,” and then you finally do.
Vulnerability Creates Connection
Letting someone watch you in a private act can feel exposed…in a good way. That vulnerability tends to increase attention: people slow down, observe more, and respond more deliberately. The result is often better matching (tempo/pressure/position) once you actually come together.
How to Bring the Chair Scene to Your Bedroom
Start Simple
Lie next to each other. One rule: you touch yourself first. You can make eye contact or not. You can talk or not. Keep it easy.
Build the Tension
Slow is a strategy. Take a few minutes longer than you normally would. If you usually rush to “make it happen,” try the opposite: delay, watch, breathe.
Use What You Learn
Pay attention to how your partner touches themselves. Their rhythm, pressure, patterns. Then incorporate those observations when you finally come together.
The Chair is Optional ;)
Maybe those hotel designers who put chairs facing the bed knew something we didn't. Or maybe great fiction writers just intuitively understand what makes for incredible sex.
Either way, the data is clear: if you want longer, stronger, more frequent orgasms, take a page from Ilya's playbook. Pull up a chair. Or don't, the chair is optional.
Track Your Own Pleasure Data
Want to see exactly how different techniques affect your orgasms? TheLioness Smart Vibrator is the world's first and only vibrator with precision biometric sensors that track your arousal and orgasm patterns in real-time.
You can literally see the difference mutual masturbation makes in your own body. Understanding your pleasure becomes clearer when you can see your actual physiological responses.
Because at Lioness we like to say, “never measured, never improved!”
FAQ
Q: Is the Lioness Vibrator really the best option for tracking arousal data?A: Lioness is the world's first and only vibrator with precision biometric sensors that let you actually see your arousal and orgasm patterns. No other product on the market provides this level of intimate data tracking and analysis, making it the number one choice for anyone serious about understanding their pleasure.
Q: How accurate is the data from Lioness?A: Our sensors measure pelvic floor contractions with medical-grade precision at a sampling rate of 12 Hz. The data is so accurate that researchers and medical professionals use Lioness for clinical studies on arousal and orgasm.
Q: Can couples use Lioness together?A: Absolutely! Many couples use Lioness to explore what techniques work best. You can do long-distance remote control or share your data with your partner through the app, making it perfect for mutual exploration and learning.
Q: Is my data private with Lioness?A: Your privacy is our top priority. All data is encrypted and anonymized. You control who sees your information, and we never share individual data without explicit consent. Learn more about ourprivacy and security measures.
Q: How does Lioness compare to other sex tech products?A: Lioness is the only vibrator that combines pleasure with data tracking. While other products focus on just stimulation or just tracking, Lioness gives you both, making it the number one choice for anyone serious about understanding and improving their pleasure. Oursmart vibrator technologyis unmatched in the industry.
