Depressing but necessary plot section in erotica

Hello. I just joined the board, so I hope this is the appropriate forum for my question. It's plot-related, but erotica-specific.

I've been writing fanfiction for about six months now, and I've started working on my first work of original erotic fiction. I'm about 20,000 words in.

Part of the plot involves one of the main characters going through a very bad patch (drug addiction) after being split up from the other main character (emotionally and location-wise.)

There's not going to be much happy sex during this period. There is the potential for some unhappy sex between him and other minor characters.

My question is this: am I shooting myself in the foot, by essentially having a depressing bit in the middle of my story? Worse, a depressing bit with no sex? It's essential to the plot, but I have to wonder how much angst people will tolerate in their erotica before ditching it and moving on (even if there is a reconciliation and a happy ending.)

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.
~chasingriver

Actually - I don't disagree at all.

The other main character basically intervenes and much of the rest of the story deals with his post-addiction/behavioural issues in the context of a D/s relationship (which redevelops slowly between them after the detox has taken place.)

That's good to know about the 'sex with other characters thing' for future reference, but again - I think there are places this needs to go that it will just have to go.

Thanks for your feedback!

Interesting. Even if they are not currently in a relationship with each other and both parties know that?

Wow. Good to know. It makes me glad I'm writing this for me, and not for someone else.