Disclaimer: E L James owns these characters. Me? I'm just a big fan

The end: Pushing our limits

This is new but I'm going to put a warning right here.

WARNING: If you are a fan of strong, independent Ana, this chapter is the complete opposite. To not face any disappointment in her character/story-line I have chosen to develop, please just re-read the previous chapter and be merry. It should end with lots of hugs and kisses, and other sweet things you decide to imagine. Thank you very much.

"What is this?" I ask, waving the tickets in front of him, completely bewildered by his gesture.

"They're plane tickets to New York Ana," Christian says matter-of-factly, "We're going to Fashion week for the weekends. But we can't stay long, only a short two days one night."

He doesn't seem at all fazed by of this, spending the past few days denying me what I want, and then does a goes around doing the exact opposite? I don't get this, I feel a headache coming.

"But Christian, I thought you didn't allow me to go?" I question him, still in a daze, not seeing the big picture here.. "I even called Kate to cancel…"

"Yes I'm aware of that." Christian says dryly, and I feel a little betrayed if you asked me. "Did Kate sound disappointed that you couldn't go?" No. "Why do you think that is so?" He throws another question at me, like he knew what my answer was.

"So are you saying this is all part of the plan?" I scoff at the absurdity of it, the fact that I had gone behind Christian's back and he does the exact same thing. And he managed to get stubborn Kate, my best friend on his side for this? Why that little monster…

"Tit for tat Ana. And I vowed to give you the world." Christian lets out a low chuckle, probably having a kick out of making me look like a fool. Unknowingly, I joined in the laugh too. Everything seems fine now, but one question still pricks my mind.

"So…" I say nervously fondling the tickets in hand, being wary of the unforeseen consequences of my question, my eyes looming anywhere else other than on Christian, "Are you still going to spank me?"

"Do you think I should spank you?" The weight in his tone changes as we get down to business.

"No. But…" Confused with Christian's sudden change in his disciplining tactics, wondering if he has become softer, less dominating then he usually is. It makes me feel, I don't know, almost sad, like something is missing. "I thought you were going to spank me."

"I was, yes." Was? Like he had that in mind but decided to drop the idea. But why? "However, if you don't want to be spanked, then I won't" Okay, this is downright confusing! Where is Christian trying to go with all this? It's getting harder and harder to read him. I thought we've seen it all, but I think there's more layers left unpeeled then mere fifty.

"What do you mean you won't? Christian I went behind your back to do something you told me not to. Don't you think I deserve a spanking?!" I raised my voice, determined to get to the bottom of this, to find the true meaning of what's stopping him from tanning my hide. He couldn't possibly give up his control over me, could he?

"Do you think you deserved to be spanked?" This is getting frustrating, I am standing here blatantly in my birthday suit and Christian decides to play twenty questions. Oh jolly.

"It's a simple question Anastasia. Do you or do you not think you deserve to be spanked?" Christian asks again, while he slides his way from across the desk to right beside me, tucking a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.

After pricking on my conscience, then making me wait in silence, which now I'm guessing was for my own self-reflection, now Christian goes to ask me about my opinion about my own punishment. Only one word comes to mind: submission. Christian is testing whether or not I'll submit to him on my own accord, without any threats, without any pressure.

I know what I did was wrong, to manipulate him like that, ending up making a reckless decision which had no back-up plans whatsoever. No knowledge about what is going to happen in New York, the literary, the transportation, the lodging, the security, the tabloids, the exposure, the dangers I'll be getting myself into – the magnitude of it all strikes me at full blast. Guilt consumes me as I know I've betrayed Christian – my husband, my soul mate, my everything.

"Yes, I think I deserve to be spanked Christian." I turn and looked his squarely in the eye when I say that. I'm not going to be guilt-ridden and suffer for my mistake which isn't properly corrected. I knew I needed this, so did Christian, he needed it too, more than he thinks he does.

Christian's arches a perfect brow, as though he couldn't believe what he just heard. His eyes squint, studying my face to see if I was telling the truth. When he comes to a conclusion, his eyes turns dark, no longer my Christian from a minute ago, now he's my – sir.

"Good. Now ask for it Anastasia." Damn bastard, he just had to make me do it.

"I have been very naughty, manipulating and deceiving you to get what I want." I say this with my eyes downcast, a rule in the playroom but it felt apt here. I twiddle my thumbs in anticipation, a part of me awaits in exhilaration that there is very big chance I'll get a mind-blowing orgasm after this. "Please spank me, sir"

-Fiftyshades-

Dressed in only my nightgown, nothing underneath, I assume the position Christian orders me to be. My hands press firmly on the large leather ottoman in the living room. Yes, the living room, where I'm exposed for all to see and hear. The nightgown does nothing to cover my vulnerable derriere, raised high in the air, which I'm sure Christian won't find hard while trying to aim at it, should be a bulls-eye each time if you ask me.

My senses are heightened at this new experience, plus the possibility of the household staff walking in will be the death of me. Christian indeed chose to go all out to make sure I learn my lesson by not doing it in the privacy of our own room, fully aware that I'll be utterly humiliated even though I am not seen - I will be heard.

"Very good Anastasia, I see that following instructions hasn't proved to be too difficult for you." Christian praises then mocks – oh my fifty. I could feel him somewhere around me, but I focused on one particular button knob pressed into the ottoman, forming a crater.

"Look up," Christian orders as he stands in front of me, holding up something in his hand for me to see. It looks like an old-fashioned hairbrush, only without the bristles. For a split second, a bimbotic side of me thinks that there's a problem with the manufacturing process and they forget to add the bristles in. But then I realise maybe they didn't add the bristles in for a reason. "This is called a paddle. It's flat on both sides and made of wood. After I've given you a hand-spanking, I will use this implement on you. We've agreed to no whips and canes, and I'm going to adhere to my side of the agreement. This will be hurt and you will be in pain, but I have to make sure I drive my point through."

"Any questions before we begin?" He ends his explanation and dry run-through by placing the paddle on the ottoman, covering the spot I've been pinning my view on. I don't know what to make of it - the paddle - somehow it doesn't look at all intimidating. In spite of my curiosity, I know better than to question Christian's choice of implement, especially at this crucial point of time where I'm not in the position to make any decision regarding the outcome of my bottom.

"No" I answer clearly.

*Smack!* I gasp at Christian's sudden hit.

"No what?" Dominating Christian is out, so I better keep in line if I want to sit comfortably tomorrow or the day after.

"No sir" I whimper.

"Very well, now Anastasia why am I spanking you?" The routine starts, I want to roll my eyes at the obvious answer, but now's not a good time to test those waters.

"I disobeyed you on purpose and made you worry unnecessarily sir."

"Good answer. Let's begin." I close my eyes as I wait for the first smack to reign upon me.

*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*

Christian always knows how to spank well, from the way he bends his arm and the way he flicks his wrist to pacing the smacks well, making sure to cover my entire bottom.

*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*

The spanking for now is tolerable, but I know from experience it won't be for long.

*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*

The pain is really getting to me, but I held it in.

*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*

Christian suddenly moves to my sit spots, raining down smack after smack in quick succession.

*Smack!* "Ow"

*Smack!* "Oww"

*Smack!* "Ouch"

*Smack!* *Smack!* "Owwwww! Christian it hurts…." I whine as he goes for round 3 on my bottom. I'm surprise the water-works have not started yet.

*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*

"Owww Christian stop! I promise I'll be good! Please please…. Chris – " I plead as I hop from one foot to another, trying to lessen the sting of the spanks.

*Smack!* *Smack!* "Ouuucccchhh!" The thing I said earlier about the water-works, well now the damp is broken.

"Stay still Anastasia!" Christian chastises in his commando-like voice, "Am I going to have to spank you just to teach you to stay still?"

*Smack!* *Smack!* More on my sit spots.

"I asked you a question Anastasia and I expect an answer."

"No sir" I sniffle, rubbing at my tear stained face.

"Good."

*Smack!* *Smack!* *Smack!*

"Ahh – ahh – Christian – Pleasseeeeee! I'm sorry!" My pitch soaring as I beg Christian to stop.

"Now Anastasia, I am going to use the paddle. You will receive ten smacks. You don't have to count. Are you ready?" Christian speaks enunciates each word, making sure I know what I'm getting myself into. My cry subsides to mere sniffles as I steady myself in position, getting myself mentally prepared for "the paddle". Ten seems like an easy number to go through, a part of me felt like it was going to be a breeze.

"Yes sir"

*Wham!* SWEET HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!

I've totally belittled that innocent malfunctioned hairbrush as my body lunges forward at the impact of "the paddle", proving too great for my puny expectation.

*Wham!*

"Holy Fuck!" I curse out loud. The fact that the staff is within hearing range is the last thing on my mind. I didn't give a damn right now because my ass is on bloody fire!

"What was that Anastasia?" Christian's dom voice reigns over me. He taps the surface of the paddle on my probably deeply reddened, daring me to continue. "You know, I'd hold that tongue from any vulgarities if I were you."

"Yes sir" I suck in a breath before I answer.

*Wham!* *Wham!* *Wham!*

I don't bother to silently count any more.

*Wham!* *Wham!* *Wham!*

The tears stop and my tush feel numb to the touch. I don't even want to imagine how it looks like right now.

*Wham!* *Wham!*

I wince as two more smacks rain down.

"We're done. You've done well baby." That's it? Oh good.

My mind and body feels like it's failing on me. I'm too tired to move, to beg, to talk. My body goes limp and Christian catches me. I lean against him as I feel Christian tucking one arm below my knees and another beneath my shoulders. I clutch onto his neck with a sudden need for his touch. Other than the sharp sting of "The paddle" that felt much worse than Christian's hands, it was also too foreign for my liking. It lacked the intimacy of flesh-on-flesh, the human touch, the love I feel even when I'm being punished.

"Don't sleep yet Ana, let me take care of you for a moment." Christian's voice turns to honey, the one I much prefer compared to earlier.

I nod as Christian lays me down on our bed. The duvet never felt this soft. The smooth, cool sheets are so welcoming, making me just want to get lost in it. I sprawl out on the bed, front side down to prevent any friction to my tush. I make a mental note to not role face-side-up, or who knows what I'll do.

"Baby, this is going to sting a little, but it'll make you feel better after ok." Sting a little? No matter how much it 'stings' it's never going to be like what "the paddle" dished out. I gasp as cool cream hit my torched bottom, it is indeed a welcoming sensation.

"Hmmm…" Christian rubs the cooling cream all over, spreading the nice feeling. I wish we'd do a round of vanilla, but I'm just too burned out to be in the mood, and my derriere needs some rest after that ordeal.

I hear Christian moving about the room, then finally comes to lie down beside me. I turn my head to face him as he perches himself on his elbow.

"I'm sorry," I say, "I just don't know what's gotten into me. Please don't be mad at me."

"Baby, you're forgiven and I'm not mad at you, though you really make me want to punch a wall sometimes." Christian comforts me with hushed tones, sweeping my messy fringe away from my face, slipping it behind my ear. I inwardly leap knowing that this matter has ended, it's gone, it's in the past and will not be mention again in the future. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay I guess, a little sore that's all. My bottom's going to look horrid tomorrow." I pout knowing that it'll be covered in some kind of ugly shade of purple by the morning. It's going to make me feel less feminine, but definitely a damn good reminder for my behaviour.

"Yes it probably would be. But I'll still love it no less. I'll love you no less." Christian laughs, tapping my nose with his index finger.

"I didn't like the paddle…" I try my shot at getting rid of the menacing and powerful dysfunctional hairbrush.

"Why do you say that?" A frown forms as Christian knits his brows together, trying to comprehend my claim.

"Because it feels so foreign and it hurts more than your hand. And you felt so distant, making me feel so lost and small. Like I was in the room alone, though I knew you were near, but I couldn't see you, or hear you. And by using the paddle, I couldn't even feel you. I didn't like that feeling one bit…" I pour my inner-most feelings to him – the truth.

I could see Christian's pupils dilate as he travels deep into his thoughts. He thinks hard and long, processing the information I've provided. Learning more about me and I learn more about him – growing together as husband and wife.

"I won't use the paddle if you don't want me to." Christian comes back to earth – to me, declaring something that hasn't crossed my mind. This wasn't something new though, we had a similar talk before we were wed, about the whips and canes, and now we're just adding one more to the list of hard limits.

"Ok… I'm tired Christian" I mumble, a yawn escaping me, my body's indication of telling me it needs rest. The bed rumbles as Christian lets out a low quiet laughter.

"Sleep now baby. I love you." My ever-so-endearing husband commands me.

"Hmm… I love – " Sleep consumes me.

A/N: HURRAY! *pops a Bollinger* Finally my baby is complete! It has been the greatest joy and pleasure writing this. It was also a challenge finishing up in 2 weeks! This has been a great experience and to know that so many FF readers and guests out there have read and liked my story is just a feeling I can't put to words.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 'Testing his patience' has received many great reviews and some negative ones. But I like them all the same as it makes me grow as a writer, similarly I get to know more about my readers.

I'm not going to be sad that this has come to an end, though some of you may feel that way. BUT please stay tuned to more one-shots, the works are still underway.

P.s You know how I feel about those reviews. If you have a second to spare, please do leave one. You're the best!