Hanna let her thoughts flow through her mind silently as Ethan cuddled her on the large bed. Eventually, she gave into her curiosity and wiggled out of his grasp. She didn't miss the barely audible huff he made as she sat up and she resisted the urge to laugh.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62rjaBhdoT
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Hanna moved so she was lying partway on top of him, her breasts on his stomach, her head resting on her arms on top of his chest. Her brown eyes were alight with curiosity. Almost if she saw him as a puzzle that needed solving.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMA2N2wx33
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWABJ639JFk
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIXM6p4wr8
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B4Qf0RJik
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAdcnjeCVN
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Ethan bit back a sigh. That was a list of most of the things he preferred not to talk about. On the other hand, there were probably things she ought to know. "Go ahead. I'll try my best."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm7OfHHXPQ
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9eUsqcdsE
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe2OVOllwZ
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERwqaQhBZU
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Ethan smiled at that, slightly amused. "No, normal ones. Terran drugs work the same on us. I haven't been sleeping well this week."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmivbMBn0E
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqkhZDk5jU
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNk4hUhG6r
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcqnhRnLsu
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap1Ki4UMsT
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Hanna glanced down over his still nude body, brief but critically. "But it seems like you're doing better now than you were a couple days ago?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhE7lRdLAp
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CrLao0Y3n
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXthJKnpJ1
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The faint nagging sensation at the back of his mind returned. He'd known that the heat was supposed to push his sex drive to the maximum but that's all he'd been expecting. He didn't realize that it would make him sweat buckets or keep him from getting more than a couple hours of a sleep a night. The changes had caught him off guard and left him scrambling to get everything under control for the first few days.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSiizl0JfR
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By now, he was well aware of the physical symptoms. The ones he'd experienced so far, that is. He didn't know if his body would keep changing, or it this was what he was going to have to deal with for the rest of his life. It was difficult to believe all the other Charax managed like this. Or maybe there was something wrong with him.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBLRSblq9W
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He still had no clue if this was normal, other than that the kidnappers seemed to think it was normal. Not that they were a good source of information. He couldn’t believe anything they said, just because they'd said he'd lose himself didn't mean it would happen. There was no point in even mentioning anything about that, no need to frighten her with what was likely just another lie.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuSk1aNlrg
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUBzabOEjP
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgKtxbf1FG
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"It isn't," Ethan mumbled in agreement, before realizing he'd spoken aloud. "But it's not that bad," he added quickly.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCRsf1Nfwt
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T7gfQerov
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlkpJFHhxo
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhnFSCIREY
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVckLvmAXr
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Hanna took a second to process that, she hadn't expected him to be so inexperienced but that fact also answered a lot of other questions. "Okay, then how do other Charax usually deal with it?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDxUZD8ro3
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I'd love to know that too, Ethan thought wistfully. Except there's nobody I can ask. He only had one older brother, who'd never even had a heat before they all split up, and no way to contact him, or any of his family on Earth. Plus, it took months to get messages back from Manina so he hadn't bothered trying anyone over there.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiikFFEc5I
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He'd never seen his father during one of his heats either. His parents had always been away... and it was suddenly apparent to him why he had so many siblings.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIw9EGv8It
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QaMK49kI9
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Hanna glanced around the room, noticing how old the place looked. She suddenly had the disturbing idea that they might be lying in the room he was conceived in. "So, um, is this— Did they...?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq07tvbBRG
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"No, not here, I set this place up a few years for an emergency," Ethan explained quickly. "But places like this, yes."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlyOoDwPsb
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"We've got that part sorted at least," Hanna said optimistically. "So how long have you been in heat and how long does it usually last?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91OJly5XG9
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Ethan's breath caught in his throat, he wasn't entirely sure how long it would take to end on it's own, or what would happen to him in the meantime. "About nine days and I don't know."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aaRI4vV5F
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Hanna looked at him curiously, wondering if he wasn't being honest with her, this seemed like very basic information. He didn't seem to know much about Charax biology at all. On the other hand, it wasn't uncommon for Terrans to get a poor sexual education either. "What about an estimate then? Two weeks? Three weeks?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezAkmeoeYB
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"I really don't know. My parents' vacations always varied." Ethan's mouth felt dry. "If you need to go... I'll understand." He gripped her arm tight in contrast to his words.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjsrWoIrOz
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Hanna glanced at his hand. "Let's not jump to any conclusions just yet. How long did your parents' trips last?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZVWxrFlzr
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOcdoetgHA
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijmzL9sJsN
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qyp28cmNd
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSMzdTpBk3
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi3Rln4yUU
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaLuz2TLEt
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"Not for us. The more a Charax woman is... stimulated, the more likely it is, and the men are more virile in heat," Ethan explained.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjQjo6kint
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Hanna wondered what he meant by 'stimulated' exactly, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know. "The time varied but there was always... so do you think that triggers the end of the cycle?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0WKCG7Gkd
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTzzbNj9b0
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGN5rekJHF
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The pregnancy pheromones causing the heat to end early... Ethan didn't know if that was true, he didn't want to think about it. He'd realized it was likely inevitable considering what they'd been doing with zero protection. Or had already started.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmtdCTqHit
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He mentally kicked himself for not thinking about it sooner. It wasn't only that he didn't feel like himself, he was missing things that should have been obvious. Not considering pregnancy when he didn't want a child, that was a significant lapse. Part of him wanted it, a very primal part, but he knew he shouldn't, for so many reasons. Even though he wanted the heat to end, he didn't want it to end that way.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaM8e5m0Cx
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Which meant he needed to stop this, stop fucking her, but he wasn’t even sure that was possible. Even if he knew that was what he wanted now... in the moment he might completely change his mind. Her being here, so close to him, it was risky.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G1jNrXHND
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That meant he'd have to ask her to leave. His stomach twisted at the idea. He'd tried isolating himself here at the start and it had been torturous, worse than struggling to hide the symptoms all day. Just a bit of human contact had been worth all the risk of going back to the city at the time. Now he regretted the decision, but he still didn’t want to do that ever again.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J1KC4kGxx
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He didn't know what staying here on his own for a prolonged period would do to him. Except that the dealers thought he'd go insane.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkTJivt35b
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He couldn't help thinking of the possibility. Without a partner, would he start to lose his mind? Was waiting it out on his own not an option? That didn't seem right... yet it was starting to make a twisted kind of sense.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsqOAEkM5r
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He couldn't forget how the dealers had been completely right that he'd had sex with the first woman he could. She had appeared and... he'd done exactly what they said he would. All his earlier intentions had been utterly discarded, and he was still doing it.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIKUuZZ76g
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPriwfS4PL7
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Ethan saw her, lying on his chest, waiting patiently for his answer. "...it could," he answered reluctantly. "Charax release and react to pheromones. It's possible."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rBNrXgWzd
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtRLB8cKXF
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvu3aJnAiK
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"Let's just say it'll be a while before my birth control wears off," Hanna answered dismissively, distracted by her own thoughts.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzO2AXZUoN
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G18k9s9n0
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Ethan realized just then that he'd never actually asked her about birth control. Another thing he missed. He threw his head back against the pillow. He should have asked. He looked up at the blank ceiling. How had this not been on his list of priorities?105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9prBJ9B8QB
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzy1FmGAIN
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"No. No, it's not. Sorry." Ethan tried to focus on the present. That was one thing he didn't have to worry about, he should be happy about that. "I should have asked about that sooner. Sorry."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaosm73SGt
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Hanna shook her head, concern on her face. "No need to apologize. I know the heat is messing with your head." She saw he was about to protest. "Listen, I knew this would likely happen. It's taken care of." She tried to give him a reassuring smile. "Believe me, I know how it easy it can be to forget things in the moment."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsqc3Ds9AQ
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFEgIaxwPJ
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj0AFdsyTE
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"Okay," Ethan said quietly, his frown not leaving entirely. "It'll got away on it's own. We can wait it out." He paused, watching her uncertainly. "Is that alright?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd3pxViBoE
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HCalkMpPu
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At least one of us is enjoying this, Ethan thought tiredly, smiling inwardly. He was starting to feel the strain of everything their activity on his body, the soreness bleeding through his turbulent emotions. "Any more questions?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4mDgty3CH
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Hanna thought for a moment. "Wait, what happened when your father went into heat and your mother was pregnant? Because don't Charax pregnancies last a long time? Years or something?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThrNfthkPA
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAamWswyVV
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFavvySJDNW
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"Four to six months," Ethan added. He frowned as he understood Hanna's point. "I don't know. The timing of it doesn't make sense." He yawned. "Got your next question yet?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgvq9Y8Ryf
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Hanna wanted to ask him more but she was getting the feeling that she was pushing her luck. She needed to think about this for a while. "Just thinking. I'll let you know if I have any ideas."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq4ksevZ4g
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62LsrX2heA
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiabUkUDYPb
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8GQGvTRfv
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Hanna went to get her clothes from the bathroom. He'd given her a lot to think about, as even the basic information she had known about Charax heats was so wrong. That itself wasn't much of a revelation, he had been acting nothing like the sex monster she'd been prepared for.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUVqresDhV
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The whole conversation had left her feeling more worried than before. She thought the heats usually didn't last more than a week, but Ethan's had already been nine days and didn't show any sign of letting up. He already seemed drained, another two weeks in heat sounded incredibly taxing.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiWqyVa3Te
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7oMf0za5J
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She'd never heard the heats could be dangerous, for the Charax at least. She hoped she wasn't wrong about that.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgyqCy39gz
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