Page 141 of Malicious Claim

She had no reason to think Estela was the same as the maid, but that didn't stop the idea from easily invading her mind. If Makros took pleasure in breaking women into submission, who was to say that this one wasn't already trained to give him pleasure?

Estela was quiet for a while. Then, unable to help herself, she looked at Leila's perfectly naked body and whispered, "Does it hurt?"

Leila smiled weakly. "Isn't that the point?"

Estela's lips parted slightly searching for words, then closed when she found none. She opened her bag, pulling out some ointments and a bundle of cotton wool. "Sit," she told Leila, her voice recovering its confidence.

Leila obeyed, sinking onto the chaise lounge with a quiet sigh. Estela knelt before her. She dunked a ball of cotton wool into one of the ointment containers.

Leila tensed as Estela brought the cotton wool to her skin.

"Relax," Estela said softly. "It's just Aloe Vera gel meant to cool the sting."

Estela's hands were steady, her touch firm but gentle, smoothing the gel on Leila's bruises in slow, careful strokes.

For a while, neither of them said anything and Estela simply continued mechanically with what she was doing. Then, as if she could not hold her curiosity in check any longer, Estela said, "I don't mean to pry, but..."

Leila breathed out. "But you will anyway."

Estela smiled, unapologetic. "Do you... enjoy it?"

Leila stared at her. "Enjoy what?"

"This." Estela waved her hand loosely across the room, then back at Leila's skin. "Being dominated."

Leila leaned back a little, considering. "It's complicated."

"You lying bitch," said the annoying voice in her head. "You enjoyed it!"

Estela grumbled a hum to herself, dabbing the bruises on Leila's breast. "I'm sure it is. But what's the limit? When does it stop being painfully pleasurable or is it pleasurably painful and just become... you know, pain?"

Leila smiled dryly. "Maybe when you stop wanting it."

Estela tilted her head. "And do you still want it?"

Leila reflected on the question for a few seconds. Then, in a low tone, she replied, "I don't know."

Estela did not look happy with that answer but all she could do at the moment was take it like that without inquiring further. She went back to work, this time more focused, but then she hesitated before speaking up again.

"What about before this? Before him?"

Leila tensed up.

"What are you referring to?"

"Well, um... your family."

Leila's expression hardened immediately.

"That's enough questions, Estela."

Estela lowered her head immediately. "Lo siento, Mrs. Leila"

The rest of the treatment was in silence. Estella stood up when she finished, and she packed up her bag.

"Would you like me to bring you some of your clothes, Mrs. Leila?"

"Yes," Leila murmured. "And some of my personal items too. No, that's too vague. Bring me my toiletries, hair bonnet, and—" She hesitated for a moment before adding, "the small wooden box on my dresser."