A special a Valentine’s Day 2025 release directed by Anna Lee, Arousal explores the passionate and complex journey of a couple’s love in a committed relationship. The scenario finds Ryan and her partner (Will Pounder) working to keep things spicy as they navigate the ups and downs of intimacy in a LTR while working from home.

The saying ‘do what you love’ has never felt more true than with this nomination for Best Sex Scene - Featurette, for my part in Arousal. I absolutely adore Will Pounder—an incredible actor, performer, and one of my favorite people in the industry. Working with him felt like getting paid to have fun with a friend.
- Jessica Ryan said

“I had been following both afterglow and Anna Lee for a while, knowing their reputation for exceptional work,” Ryan continued. “When the opportunity to collaborate on this featurette came along, it was an immediate ‘hell yes!’ Rarely do I get to explore such emotional depth in a scene, and Anna Lee’s direction brought out the full spectrum of the human experience after an intense day of production. Pair that with Andy Zane’s talent behind the camera and our shared sardonic humor, and I was in absolute bliss.”

“What truly elevated the scene was connecting with Kimberly Anne to discuss her writing—a rare privilege for me unless it’s with the director or my co-performer. This experience was something special, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”

Thank you XBIZ for this nomination, Anna Lee, afterglow, Kimberly Anne, Andy Zane, and Will Pounder. A special thank you to HoneyHouse PR for encouraging me out of my introverted ways.

Peer voting in the XMAs has opened on the industry-exclusive social network XBIZ.net.

The 2025 XMAs will take place Sunday, Jan. 19, at the historic Hollywood Palladium.