Relive the 10 Steamiest "Outlander" Scenes Ahead of the Season 7 Premiere

The steamy sequence against which all other "Outlander" scenes are measured starts out with that classic historical romance trope: the marriage of convenience. Stuck marrying each other for reasons of politics and protection, Claire and Jamie come into their wedding night with very different experiences: he's a virgin, while she's been married before. Things start off pretty tentative as they awkwardly try to get to know each other a little better. When Claire takes charge and asks Jamie to take off his clothes, the heat ratchets way up, building tons of tension en route to a very romantic and very steamy love scene — there's even time for humour, as Claire "educates" Jamie on the particulars of women's pleasure.

The early days of Jamie and Claire's marriage seem to feature a lot of sexual exploration and playful, joyful encounters. This particular scene uses close-ups to focus on Claire's pleasure, soon revealing the source of those feelings: Jamie, head buried between her legs in the first (of several) "Outlander" scenes featuring pleasure from non-penetrative sex. At first, it seems like things might be cut short, when Murtagh comes knocking at the door. Instead of stopping, though, Jamie gets extra determined, redoubling his efforts to make sure Claire is very well taken care of before he gets up to answer the door.

The relationship between Jamie and Claire in the second season is considerably less playful than their "honeymoon" stage, especially with Jamie trying to reckon with the trauma wrought on him by Black Jack Randall's torture. In the fourth episode, the couple are able to admit their own feelings: Jamie is still traumatised and feels like less of a man for "failing" to bounce back, while Claire has felt confused and frustrated that she can't help him. At first, Jamie goes to sleep alone, but Claire goes to him, climbs into bed on top of him, and encourages him to find his way back to her — and to them — in a beautifully blue-lit scene.

"Outlander" certainly has a reputation for showing plenty of skin, but this particular steamy scene keeps its characters entirely clothed. With a deadly battle looming, Jamie and Claire agree that she should go back through the stones to keep her safe, especially since she's pregnant. As they prepare to say their goodbyes, Jamie says one of the show's most iconic speeches.

"I have lied and killed and
stolen, betrayed and broken trust...
but when I stand before God, I shall
have one thing to say, to weigh
against the rest. Lord, ye gave me
a rare woman, and God! I loved her
well," he says, before lowering Claire to the grass for one final, intimate moment together.

After spending two decades apart, since Jamie sent Claire back through the stones to avoid the coming battle, the couple reunite when Claire finds a way to return. In some ways, their reunion is a mirror of their wedding night, as they take some time to learn about each other, all while wanting each other very, very much. Like that night, they eventually move to the bedroom and disrobe, and this time, they're not seeing each other for the first time, but seeing all the new things about each other since they were last together. There's a little laughter and a lot of joy as they relearn each other, and it's as romantic and sexy a reunion as we could want.

After being rescued from spending some time on a remote island (it's a long story), Claire is rescued and reunited with Jamie. On board a ship, Claire first injects herself with penicillin to cure any lingering infection, then drinks some "turtle soup" made by their friend — not realising it's spiked with sherry. Claire quickly makes it clear to Jamie that she's a different kind of "thirsty" now, giggling and teasing him into joining her right there on the desk. Their hookup takes an even steamier turn when they turn to face a mirror on the wall — and, when Willoughby knocks to check on them, Jamie casually talks to him through the door without missing a beat with Claire.

"Don't you see how small a thing death is between us?" Jamie murmurs to Claire as they camp in an American forest en route to their next destination. "When my body dies, my soul will still be yours." It's those kinds of swoon-worthy romantic declarations that elevate many of Jamie and Claire's scenes beyond "just" being sex scenes. But there's plenty of that, too, as tender reflections on their past years — together and apart — soon lead to Claire clambering into Jamie's lap and asking him to make her "feel alive," which he immediately does with great enthusiasm.

After an emotionally taxing episode that sees Claire desperately working to save John and Jamie awkwardly hoping to bond with William, Jamie and Claire get some much-needed alone time. As he helps her in the bath, Jamie surprises Claire by presenting her with a new wedding ring (hers was stolen previously). The new ring is made from silver that originally was in candlesticks belonging to Jamie's mother, and the inside is inscribed with "Give me a thousand kisses." Claire is very touched by the gesture, and Jamie quickly moves their bathtub makeout session to the comfort of their bed.

Jamie and Claire prove that age really is just a number, kicking off Jamie's 50th birthday in a typically steamy style. As he awakens to a new decade of his life, Jamie starts out the day thoughtful and a little pensive, reflecting on the years past and the battle yet to come. Still, he expresses gratitude for making it this far and views each day as a gift — a view his wife definitely shares. After a few jokes about his "equipment" functioning fine despite his age, Claire flirtatiously pushes him back, only to straddle him and introduce him to the wonders of 20th-century pop culture — in particular, her own version of Marilyn Monroe's famous "Happy Birthday Mr. President."