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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySzP5VIIAH
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82EuAy30Gx
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFjqvRm6bP
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS9jkphWBw
"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7jJOC248i
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YIOVfKcKa
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv9hnaE297
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBK0fkLH4z
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHaujIpbCi
Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxIDlg80w7
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziw2oBR8A5
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI0eiGk1LH
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDjUBCCV3y
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9D7XRB65H
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvjeZVGrSP
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHawBTC272
"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzSs1l5Wsw
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye87lC3Ngx
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4fR5nC6AN
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzFfttN4uJ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ3qoCN8pq
"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEE9pzhUjT
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDujJbRbmJ8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr7MtjwFFY
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFcOPga2dC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46rI7qjY7Z
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCBxifM04r
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIyq3wEAJE
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDzB6t4f52
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnsUDfHKJD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1dlxu5WzV
"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ6VNsEZd1
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVmLLWrST1
"It isn't," Ethan mumbled in agreement, before realizing he'd spoken aloud. "But it's not that bad," he added quickly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUM6FTQOnh
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVW15vy0Cc
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY6quBkvsv
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAup4v342OD
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdptdIJmnm
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAleJarUtZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tgHN0ELVJ
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6vMSMCR8m
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdnpwHDbvV
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeoljXAIK2
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO6I6msi4F
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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...?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPJEiliBkL
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnzCrL2ReD
"No, not here, I set this place up a few years for an emergency," Ethan explained quickly. "But places like this, yes."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD9N43gXKZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3eUufKiaB
"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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSuUu57afC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK0qqxQokb
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kHD0map6u
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfypKGM7n7L
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzyv69uIlr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo4KojlztH
"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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpdCG4fGPq
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjR7j7ddKQ
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMSrPMX6rL
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyRWpjTD6I
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEh5A2gp7F
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzItocVggHD
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwvXEpPwvZ
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxvMAz18Gs
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiILX2ROVLR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZkfSBxsLJ
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2e47maXXf
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp2lEn0HnY
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ys7GJFCpY
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBY13N9fwZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrcVMzGMeV
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p5AjRkTgi
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5fUuK4q2R
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ulGsS5wBx
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2JHjTVv8F
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1w66U11vY
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbiLNGERj2
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuqEHdKMll
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P7IbhF45H
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb0dtG4elM
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtyK59e2z7
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFSODwQbsu
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbmsVa26gj
Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXQpIawWa8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjdgc3d9HZ
"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3Z1JyJz8f
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicZvmh70Gu
"Let's just say it'll be a while before my birth control wears off," Hanna answered dismissively, distracted by her own thoughts.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLGXyrWgxk
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgZ7gXkAnc
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2UyGwXj6h
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?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKGe1GO6DB
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsAdO2r6Js
Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eB08lNn7H
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwQrtjinGF
"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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE2z2hrCwg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K50to97g6
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYH86WaJs3
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ojvsEQ8On
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYszB0OrPC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGyRbWAyJ8
"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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDTzklX7AB
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEZjxupX53
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRZaPNIwRu
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7RGQEOMZG
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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavSnEChHqc
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi9ljFDcM1
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y4nrQVhDF
"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN2XjbHhcH
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dxs6xHw0J
"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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD6V4K43Sf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkR9auY6Bd
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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTUatSb3Sa
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQIEciN7p3
"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfsyRakDFg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkWYC7bJlR
Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGuI5J5AZY
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC23aeoYf8z
"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPmUeHSgax
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNZcLbA7V6
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7UhvDjyYd
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76pRGOs5HO
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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MbpJZ2xWs
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWwpND2Wrh
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWVT37A5CN
She'd never heard the heats could be dangerous, for the Charax at least. She hoped she wasn't wrong about that.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCgKkYlc3l
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