Love or lust?

I think the intensity of sex depends on the book. If I read a teen romance, I don't want to read sex or have it implied. If I read young adult I could imagine it would go either way. However, some romance is more of the surrounding story than the actual sex. I read in a psychology book once that the more a woman orgasms determines how quickly she falls in love. Not sure that's true because a person might know their way around the bed and be a douche in life - who would love that? Then, I love to read the really steamy stories too. All those emotions! In the end, sex for the sake of sex is not romance. You have to involve the heart and emotions for romance, sex is just a wonderful way to express both of those.

I think it has to do a lot with other elements of the story you do show.

Think of it like a movie that has to be rated.

If your story has minimal violence then putting in explicit sex scenes would be fine, but if your story is filled with violence it is best to keep the sex implied or at least to a minimum.

Of course, certain generas have expectations to fulfill. Like Thriller. I have a hard time reading Thrillers, because they tend to be laden with explicit sex, language, violence, and gore, with little to no place to breath. But a Thriller is going for a much "higher" rating then most Romances.

Young Adult is a terrible name for the genera because it sounds like it is for adults who are young. When in actually it is for teens. Harry Potter and Twilight are both Young Adult.

Love this discussion.

Here is a chapter never before seen on TNBW. You won't know the background, so just give my your thoughts.

7
Poker
They sat on the bed, and Drew opened the new cards, removing the jokers.
Jana touched his hand. "Leave the jokers. If you get a joker, it's an automatic win. Five card stud, no folding."
"Why don't we just get naked?"
"That wouldn't be as much fun. This builds anticipation."
Drew shuffled and dealt. Jana looked at her cards. "I'll bet you have to take off that horribly hot coat."
"Oh, you play differently." He smirked. "Should I go directly for the dress?"
"It's your prerogative."
"In that case, I'll bet you have to let me take off your panties."
"Wait a minute."
"That's my bet."
Jana blushed. Drew's smirk became more devilish. "You're bluffing," he goaded.
She raised an eyebrow. "Read 'em and weep. Two aces."
He grinned. "Your rule. One joker."
"Did you cheat?"
"No. Never." He shook his head and put on a pout. "How could you think such a thing?"
"Liar."
"I swear."
Drew ran his hands up Jana's legs to her panties. She closed her eyes. "Hand check, buster!" she scolded as his fingers brushed her skin. "We haven't got to touching yet."
He laughed and slipped her panties off, dropping them on the floor. "What if we both have a joker?"
"Next highest card."
"What if I get both jokers?"
"You're cheating."
"Mmm. I say if one of us gets both jokers, we move directly to touching."
"All right," she agreed. "My deal."
Jana dealt. "You get the opening bet."
Drew looked at his cards. "You dealt. That dress has to go."
Jana smiled. She opened Drew's fly and slipped her hand inside.
With a slight jump, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Your rule." She flipped her cards over. "Both jokers."
"No way. I have four aces."
"I don't think you'll need your Viagra." She sat back. "Your deal."
"Did you cheat?" he asked.
Jana smiled a Mona Lisa smile, but said nothing.
Drew exhaled. He shuffled and dealt.
Jana made a face. "I bet both your shoes."
"Must have a bad hand."
"Not necessarily. Those pants can't come off if the shoes are on. It's like chess. I'm planning my next move."
"Okay. That dress has to go."
"No joker?" she teased.
"No, damn it." He turned down the corners of his mouth.
"Show your hand. I have a flush."
"You win. A pair of fives." He kicked his shoes across the room
Jana dealt. Drew huffed. "I'm gonna get rid of that damned dress."
"Not this hand. The pants go."
"I have a pair of jacks." He laid his face cards down with a grin.
"Ah, but the ladies talk louder. Two queens."
"You're cheating!" he accused.
"Whiny baby; sore loser," she retaliated.
He slipped his slacks to the floor before he snatched the cards and dealt. Jana tilted her head back and forth. "You look miserable in that jacket."
"I am. Those petticoats must itch."
Jana laid down her pair of twos.
"Not a damned thing," snarled Drew, throwing the coat across the room to join his shoes.
Jana laughed and dealt. "Joker!" she squealed. "Take off the boxers."
Drew dropped his boxers by the bed. Jana eyed him.
"What?" asked Drew.
"Definitely above average."
"Thank you."
"Did you take the Viagra?"
"No." Drew glanced down. "I don't need it. You're doing a fine job on me."
"Stop pouting and deal."
Drew dealt. "Bet already," he growled.
"Damn! I have to take off the tie."
"The dress; three aces," he gloated
A sly smile crossed Jana's lips as she laid her cards down with exaggerated care, one at a time. "My four little twos beat that." She tipped her chin into her chest and batted her eyelashes coyly.
"Damn it! I should cheat," he grumbled.
Jana pulled the tie off Drew. "My deal," she reminded.
Drew sighed when he looked at his cards. "The dress."
"The pocket watch," she countered.
Drew laid the pocket watch on the nightstand.
He dealt.
"The vest," said Jana.
"The damned dress."
Jana won. The vest hit the floor.
Jana dealt.
Drew rolled his eyes. "The dress. I don't give up."
"The shirt," said Jana.
"Nothing, king high."
"Nothing, but I do have an ace."
"Woman!"
Jana laughed. "Shall I unbutton it?"
"Does that constitute touching?"
"I don't know, counselor. I'll do my best not to touch skin."
Drew's shirt joined the rest of his clothes. He dealt. "Joker! Joker!" taunted Jana. "Off with the socks!"
Drew dropped the socks off the bed. "Very nice," breathed Jana with anticipatory approval.
"Deal," he muttered
"Stop sulking." Jana dealt and screamed. She reached over and fondled Drew.
"Both jokers?" he groaned.
She showed them. Drew reached out and pulled her face to him and kissed her.
Jana pulled back. "You're breaking the rules. I'll allow you one infraction. Deal."
Drew shuffled the cards. "New game," he proposed.
"What?" she asked with skepticism.
"Fifty-two, no, fifty-four card pick up." He threw the cards into the air and pulled Jana to him, falling back as the cards showered them.
He fought with the buttons on the dress. "Oh, turn around," he moaned in frustration.
As Drew unbuttoned the dress, Jana doffed the shoes. Drew slid the dress to the floor. He kissed her neck and caressed her breasts. He rolled her nipples between his thumbs and index fingers.
"Oh," breathed Jana.
He ran his right hand down her side and glided fingers into her.
"Stop, Drew," Jana said in a whisper.
"No," he barely breathed.
"For a minute. Please?"
Drew stopped. Jana opened her case and took out a small pink compact. Drew smiled and nodded. She quickly inserted her diaphragm. Drew kissed her again. "Do you want me to wear a condom, too?" he asked. "I'm clean."
"I know you are. Me, too. I'm scared, but I want to feel you. Don't wear one."
Drew picked up with his fingers. "You're so tight," he murmured.
"It's been a long time."
"Tell me to stop if I hurt you. Like you said, I'm above average."
Drew started into her. "Oh." Jana tensed. She tightened her grip on his shoulders.
"Relax," he coaxed.
"It hurts," she said with a catch in her voice.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No."
Drew pulled out. His mouth found her breasts before he kissed and nibbled down her torso. Her breath came gasps. His tongue probed her until she groaned. Then, he slid inside her after a couple of thrusts.
"Oh," Jana moaned and dug her nails into Drew's back.
"Okay?"
"Better than okay. Mmm."
They found their rhythm and erupted as Jana bit Drew's shoulder. "Oh, my God!" she mumbled into his flesh. "Oh, my God!"
Drew nibbled her neck and ear. "Amazing. Oh, my God! You felt like a virgin. Did I hurt you?"
"No. It was wonderful. Do it again. It's a tie. We both have royal flushes."
"Low hand wins," he argued. "I'm holding onto the queen of hearts."
She laughed slightly. "Woe is me. I 'Drew' the joker."
Drew laughed in her ear and began a perfect rhythm. He had no need for his prescription.

Did that scene come off as somewhere between a love scene and an erotic scene?

Janet, it teased, focussed on emotion, and was detailed but kept the mystery and imagination elements without being overly graphic. So I vote romance/love, not erotica.

Thanks, ladies! When I finish posting Whatever it Takes, I'll move to this one. Keep your eyes peeled. It's entitled Dyed Rosebuds and is another romantic suspense. It's the sequel to Wilted Magnolias which was taken down and sent to the Faulkner competition where it finished as a finalist.

Due to the visibility of the forum, I have deleted this scene

Next chapter of Northern Skies is nearly ready.  And I have no idea where it would fit!  I'll ask the question after it's up.

Thanks!

Drech is exagerating he only trekked 550 miles. But he did nearly drown...

I find if I'm reading a romance novel with intense chemistry between the characters I find my self disappointed when the sex is implied. Some build the friction so well that you want to be then it comes to an end. However saying that some erotica I have read can be a let down in the romance department. So when I come across a happy medium I will be extremely happy.

As to what I write I lean more to the erotica side, I like to give my readers some steam however I do try to give them love as well.

This means a lot to me - it was what I was going for!  Thanks!

Tom.....So agree with this....
"I've inserted scenes in almost all of my Romance novels depicting intense love and sex between consenting adults.  I see nothing wrong with that, and I try my best to make it tasteful and certainly nothing more than what I've read what some of the more popular authors of the day put in their bestsellers.  I also see no need for gratuitous sex just for the heck of it, or to enhance a chapter I feel is lagging. Violent or illegal sex might be alluded to, but will not detail it and only use it if it is a critical turning point in the story."

Haven't read your story, but will def check it out...Mine is also romance with suspense.....romantic/suspense called Beyond Paradise....Check it out....Would love to hear your thoughts.....Denise