I think a lot of this could be alleviated if people would take the time to click on the like button. I've seen stories with 300,000+ views and yet they have less than 300 likes but that's a rant for a different thread.
Well, I say it's about us to change that as well. I had a reader of my "
Happy Maid" story, who wrote me that he/she often makes an effort to "like" the non porn chapters, as he/she knows how hard they are to write, and that it's much more difficult sometimes to get the structure and the plot right. Since reading that, I realised myself that I click too easily "like" on the sex scenes I read and try to remind myself to like other chapters as well. In fact, since starting as an author, I like more chapters in general, I am quicker to click, because I know that this is pure encouragement for writers, and I want to encourage those whose stories I enjoy (of course that does not mean I stupidly click 'like' on chapters I dislike).
So my thing that I'm cautioning against is the breakdown of the story. I agree with Artican that is very tempting to try and top your last sex scene. The story very well may call for that. I'm not disparaging that in the least. What I'm cautioning against the removing of stakes, conflict, and obstacles from the story once that first sex scene hits. This is when the story needs them the most. You've just given your audience what they want now you need to make them want it again. I hate more than anything when a character has been reluctant to do something rather tame and then once they give or receive the D they become a wanton fiend for which no act is to depraved. They can eventually do the act and maybe even love it, but they should at least come to terms with it not just jump right into it.
This is why I like stories which start slow. If the first sex scene is rather innocent, you can always build on that. If the first scene is already a full blown out orgy, you have to get very creative to top that. I used to do a lot of erotic sex chats in a chat that had lots of roleplayers back in the days, so there was a certain sense of "storytelling" and "plot building" because that's what the community was expecting, but even in those surroundings, you often might fall into the trap of losing interest after the first hot sex scene. There were those stories, though, that you could play for days and you would return to continue with the exact player, because both were developing a plot and a story.
Besides, I don't think that the "bridge" chapter(s) between two sex scenes necessarily have to be completely dull and frigid. There's lot of different ways to hide small details, foreshadowing and the like, to make it actually enticing.
I do agree with you that a good story needs character development, preferably slowly, and of course, a good story needs a goal, a target, an objective for the reader (and/or the protagonist). I actually like it if the goal can even be to NOT give in to your sexual lust. Then you can enjoy playing the story in two ways: You can just give in and watch the protagonist fail (always interesting anyway), or you can try to steer the protagonist clear of it. If done well, you will still experience sex scenes, but there's always the little spicy touch that the sex will corrupt you and ultimately let you fail. I have several other stories like this in mind.
On the other hand, tastes are different. Apparently there are those readers who love to read the typical story of that you mention, the "wanton fiend", who just snaps and turns from shy girl to sex slut within two chapters. I also find that rather boring, and it's not something that gets me aroused at all, but if readers like it - why not. If you look at the successful books out there, you really sometimes wonder. But again: Taste is something very individual.
