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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEmaCqCwN8
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtqbxeYdCu
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPISxmsziMK
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu5n6LEl8N
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eM2RyvCwh
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj6j2vj90n
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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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQVdiTsqs5
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImtEhBbuJE
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1zouTpaNU
Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6diszLJFMg
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCZ6IM2Jwr
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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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnnQV5JtYm
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTqMVrjtxp
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztlAhdFaIY
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVwekDeBlh
"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhDs6yaqg3
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzXvYXnGSi
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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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeTw8MMCQa
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQy5tS4ixt
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC9Ww6An1Y
Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzJuz86BaE
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMCrpxuvm2
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWHAnfpvKV
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRohrhrdSN1
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayHmatMGWE
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVsi98NWEu
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOodFMx6hZU
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatTDif4jrZ
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hr6pYnKMA
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrJ7mZXYCf
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ1LT2SAHG
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFtSVVphdz
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr6JoWwc5Q
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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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83d4HN0gPS
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KWzROzaVm
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlmsk0Dxet
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEfzZMbAJo
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLypvHC4fv
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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...?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSzeBN3J7B
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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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEyKEKkSa7
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwhwL4bAAE
"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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC98mjrICuM
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOsv3wXeFu
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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWiAIGgLUl
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM2NEq6Vkw
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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd6F7QmU4T
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvTcqMmpZS
"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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2SqCakzyz
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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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf9DVhuyYa
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdiks8oopa
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpbTPf144V
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvxE6tOfkD
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PB86T7gYb
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBg2jlqIMR
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNnl4epkPi
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZ6z8kQSfv
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ451kN2rqmX
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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUk03ipK0f
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNryPcMtRE
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXMQOiSLx5
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ1Yhq3X9K
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28SyzL1j6S
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMI8r8KbIW
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5leMzIpZM2
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwHHoIRE9N
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7lIM9F8Te
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacbkITxohQ
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSpreADf5R
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MCqTDsuuH
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SDu4Zn11v
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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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIdX6XFpCi
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqAMoZtpK3
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bCoi5JgEB
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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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3U8J4ooxC
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw78KgH06A
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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?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc8Py53dbN
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpFxJeAXvm
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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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh27gzVNRI
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhliLPGfIoy
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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhTR8BAxTZ
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7lxH2svYE
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrto0bLBEW3
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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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YQrfcDAKU
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ1dF704dV
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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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrh6K7BavC
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlFBqLq9Et
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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZpt1eBLtG
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzp5p4xG3k
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hbKZ0Mx7I
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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?"92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtx2rPDBvsI
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoKC6CeeAB
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."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylzxjkziY3
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5513W9zB4R
"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYmWFOjPZW
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdU0ImUO9h
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolqkWPdYPK
"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6lDS8BBSk
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd93ST2rs0j
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX73N2a4Ugn
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdVHZPRPXt
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItV6nizwoa
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVjIfnX4IL
He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAWRqGnCrO
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKD79CcCre
She'd never heard the heats could be dangerous, for the Charax at least. She hoped she wasn't wrong about that.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQZGpyZx3E
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