This is about as dirty as I get. I tend to prefer the fade to black, cut to flickering fireplace method... Every time I try to write an actual sex scene, it comes out sounding exactly like every other attempt I've made.

I know when I read a story, I prefer a well-written break-away to a poorly written sex scene - which is not to say I don't enjoy eyeball-blistering smut, when it's good. Still, smut is not the be-all and end-all of fanfic. Don't ever feel like you need to include sex to make the story good. Limes are just fine!