Genital-to-genital contact and penetrative play with a harness are mechanically different enough to cover separately rather than folding both into one generic list. This starts with the scissoring family — six real variations ordered from easiest to most demanding — then covers strap-on compatibility and mutual toy setups.
The scissoring family, easiest to hardest
Every version here shares the same core idea: legs interlocked or interleaved, with the legs doing the work that thrusting range provides in other position families. The native motion is a rock or a grind rather than a full stroke, which is why most of these hold comfortably for longer than positions that involve supporting another person's weight.
1. Facing Scissors
Both partners sit upright facing each other, chest to chest and close enough to kiss, legs interlacing with one knee bent up and the foot planted. The easiest entry point into the whole scissoring family — it asks nothing beyond sitting comfortably with legs woven together, so it's a good place to find out whether the grinding mechanic suits you before working further down this list. Full entry in the glossary.
Seated chest to chest, legs interlaced with one knee up — small, grinding movement.
2. X Position
Both partners lie flat on their backs pointing in opposite directions, pelvises joined at the center, legs extending past each other's torsos so the two bodies form an X. Contact narrows to the joined hips and clasped hands, and neither partner can thrust from flat — everything comes from rocking, which makes this a genuinely slow position by design rather than a compromise. Full entry in the glossary.
Both partners flat on their backs in an X shape, pelvises joined at the center — movement is all rocking, no thrusting.
3. Sitting Penetration Scissoring
One partner sits upright with one knee raised, while the other lies back at a right angle to them, one arm stretched overhead. Legs interleave scissor-fashion at the hips. The seated partner can adjust the interlace by hand rather than repositioning whole bodies, which makes this a good place to learn what the crossed-legs angle actually changes. Full entry in the glossary.
One partner seated, the other lying back at a right angle — legs interleaved at the hips.
4. Leg Up Scissors
One partner lies on their back while the other sits upright between their legs, both sets of legs interlocked in the scissor arrangement. The sitting partner holds one of the lying partner's legs raised straight up against their chest and shoulder. The first entry where flexibility starts to matter — lift the leg only as far as it goes comfortably, and a soft bend at the knee keeps the angle without strain. Full entry in the glossary.
One partner sitting upright, holding the other's raised leg against their chest — flexibility starts to matter here.
5. Upright Penetration Scissoring
One partner lies twisted onto their back and side with the bottom leg flat, while the other kneels upright, holding the lifted leg against their chest and shoulder so it's supported rather than left hanging. The vertical leg is a longer hamstring reach than the seated version, so treat this as the step up rather than a sideways variation, and warm up before it. Full entry in the glossary.
One partner kneeling tall, holding the other's lifted leg supported against their chest — a longer stretch than the seated version.
6. Lying Penetration Scissoring
One partner lies on their back with legs split wide, one raised straight up and the other extended along the floor, while the other lies curled crosswise at their hips, legs interlocked scissor-style. No seated torso supports the raised leg here, so holding it up unassisted is where the real difficulty lives — open into the full spread gradually rather than forcing it. Full entry in the glossary.
The deepest split in the family — one leg straight up with no seated support, the other partner curled crosswise at the hips.
Strap-on compatible positions
Once a harness is involved, the same depth and angle considerations from any penetrative position guide apply directly — missionary-style, from behind, or seated all work with a harness the same way they would otherwise. Base compatibility matters more than most people expect going in; see our dildo buying guide for what to check before choosing one.
Missionary
With a harness, missionary works exactly the way it does otherwise — face to face, full-body contact, and easy to adjust angle by changing leg position. Base compatibility with the harness matters more than the position itself here. Full entry in the glossary.
Cowgirl
The receiving partner sits or squats astride the wearing partner, controlling depth, angle, and pace directly. With a strap-on, this puts all the pacing control in the receiving partner's hands, which some couples prefer regardless of who's wearing the harness on a given night. Full entry in the glossary.
Doggy style
On hands and knees, depth and angle adjust easily depending on how far the receiving partner lowers their chest or arches their back. Works the same with a harness as without — the adjustability is the point, not the anatomy involved. Full entry in the glossary.
Mutual, toy-assisted positions
Side-lying and facing each other, using a dual-motor or double-ended toy simultaneously rather than adapting a single-user product, keeps both partners equally in the setup rather than one person waiting their turn. See our rabbit vibrators guide for dual-stimulation options built for shared use specifically.
What makes these positions easier
Clove's guides to the props and toys that pair well with the positions on this page.
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