Trying to Get the Alchemy Right

I am working on the final scenes of the werewolf coming-of-age story, "Nightblood," now. I'm a little disappointed with (what I feel) is a lack of sexual tension, but that is what second drafts are for. I feel like the pacing is a little off -- like there's too much tension at the beginning, which leaves little room for build up. This causes a lack of tension where it really matters later in the story.

I've started (and put down) too many category romances for this very reason. The authors bombard the reader with excessive romantic and erotic feelings at the very beginning of the book. At this point, I don't know the characters (even if the author does plot dump their life story), so all of this emotion means nothing to me. No connection = I don't feel what the character is feeling. In a romance, that's everything.

A reader's relationship with a story, like any relationship, is about chemistry. And I'm an apprentice chemist! Or alchemist, as it were.

Here's to hoping I don't blow up the lab.

Love, fangs, and fur. :)