Is 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' What Women Really Want?

BOSTON (CBS) - The latest series of novels to take over the best-seller list is causing quite a stir. It's a love story that women can't seem to put down and to call it racy is an understatement.

It's called 'Fifty Shades of Grey. It's self-published by E.L. James, a little known British author. The e-book was a best-seller before the print version even hit book stores.

The story is about a naive, young college student seduced by a handsome business tycoon named Christian Grey. Written by a fan of the Twilight series, some say this is Edward and Bella for grown-ups. "It's the greatest book I've ever read," one woman said outside a book store.

This is not your ordinary romance novel. It is sexually explicit in a way you don't normally see on book store shelves. Some have even dubbed it, mommy porn. Whatever you call it, the book's popularity proves there is clearly an appetite for it.

"Women haven't really had the permission, for lack of a better word, to kind of explore that, let alone verbalize it, let alone read about it," explained clinical psychologist Dr. Stacy Wadlington. According to Dr. Wadlington, it gives women a chance to explore their sexuality. She believes it also brings to light what women really want. "They want the alpha male to take charge. I have had many women come in and say, 'where are the real men, the men who are really showing up for life'," she said.

The fantasy man is a dominant billionaire, but according to Dr. Wadlington, it's not as simple as women wanting money. Instead, she says, it's about women wanting someone to take care of them. "Not so much as women giving up complete power, but the sense of having someone fulfill their needs. They want someone they can trust who can handle things, who can take charge, who have not lost the concept of what chivalry is," she explained.

Some may argue sexual domination is not chivalry, but there's no doubt "Fifty Shades of Grey," is shaping up to be this year's beach chair blockbuster.