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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVjRYYXVR7
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZRnaXy0Wb
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvT12MTMRh
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnF333mlac
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATG6WM5fpU
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKtsqUlPoa
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXTSP4jMau
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ1te8grEP
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4OWm9Vp98
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NC7o1ognH
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjyQxtNwBV
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDQLhYf1wy
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQS1HT6qEB
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYWnOSMjCY
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKUFeSXiFL
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcOVZ9aFQQ
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau0Kd5AuMB
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekp6IKvJuZ
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAUQYujFNa
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2dtDaYQIR
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnTfkRqGxC
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRPoQSB8lV
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpyRsjVOfA
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKo11g6OJK
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoZxEe3TOi
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFA0LnH2rP
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLFAEvCZCc
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq4qyvoSNi
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZH5H1qdye
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0XbrvznBq
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBSXZg1Ufl
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0QX8AAKpE
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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...?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcP4oefsdt
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasVR1XIDgj
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOH4lnwqbY
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutpXsUWHBA
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgowMyKqZA
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTQcbEovFB
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4LKjPCPIl
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM02iWn6Im
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFETnORDUdu
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy5UfMsyJM
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO04rqapkB
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zwwwB8pSV
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM9nCIMOA6
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxoCyrGPyt
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlMlE7s1Wz
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOUk8EFfsv
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n2xaY3cja
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFE891Dw1z
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvYvmX3zX9
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyITw56CbI
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZym5j2Z1kG
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQOJ4aXgUj
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew0viP5RvU
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnVpFrKaEu
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHhlXm21Bz
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzBS98o9NY
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYY4DClWlM
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn85xR7ENJ
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79lVtqVFNX
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRci20zDO4
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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?109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTnsNT9ZTZ
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UfISejI4Z
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAg1NfH5WP
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItSuAqVptn
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVerX1fmkX
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTjPZJua4T
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnibJWAHFH
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5yoSjZeya
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGvkhb7kwv
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEhIXdhSPw
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHnpPZhEAk
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnj2faalyM
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaJVmXkAYB
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMpcQgTnMp
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIFJQi0dFi
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsIGzLG6LS
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwXVPTr7IN
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVevS353g2
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb7wxSX36i
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6ACX7SBXs
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFI3W1qsl8
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