What's with all the leather and whips?

And apparently getting a little out of touch because ambling around Elizabeth’s bookstore checking out all the usual corners - science fiction, fantasy, detective, horror, lit fiction.. OK I just walked around admiringly because not having been into this particular store before it might have all sorts of things I want.

and umh, oh yes, there was a point hiding here somewhere..

*checks pockets*

I prowled through what in more innocent times was the 'romance' section but has now been divided into what I can only call the 'beat me I'm horny' section and the 'gosh I'm a virgin' section.

I asked the lady restocking the shelves whether there is a happy medium between books that features attractive women dressed in studs, leather and latex while yelping "I've been a bad girl Daddy!" and novels wherein sweet, virginal girls with PhD's meet strong manly types who, after a small misunderstanding, vow to protect and cherish them forever.

To my sorrow she replied 'err people don't ask those questions, they slide the book surreptitiously over the counter and try to pretend they aren't really there.' So I apologised for being indelicate but my question remains unanswered; what's with all the leather and whips?