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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnfCYukEw0
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9CDde6h4a
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Dk47JsQj7
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdTRiDz5oU
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvYKZZ60sp
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmzTmDV7cj
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7YGwsf5bB
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJES6vasn0E
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43940R915u
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mf8GiieSe
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QBEeLSxfw
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3deYv6zkM
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lbukzLGhL
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhMRyHCnnt
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa95D9spvt
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn497dcF8rK
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wxETSqiMl
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbRJdNDfZ3
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpusq65jDT
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyFGwIW1w4
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1alfrpUeC
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZx2mMkp0m
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlswAR6TOcc
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeadNEXKkm
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JTPtMlvW5
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeZ72ptuhF
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAcmqdiggY
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bSdv1MVko
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEhgaLjVGs
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILImWHmQL2
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9EOUOE4xZ
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXbim6xA70
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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...?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO10RPHVDJg
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAfVtjJxdx
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS2sUiLJQe
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUkm9ZsYrC
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S82ynCdxn
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NtBr0Fk8P
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DgggYQpkh
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyawkomyYQ
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNTmAzmMyE
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ecfea4k4e
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD7Q0HruXF
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciFlvBRTe4
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKoYjTNDut
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGFiZzdCqm
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10DIEpIoOB
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxVKQL31Vl
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PSLurmhGz
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0Vka3cb5Z
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3j7Ni2ASZ
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVsKXyvsrZ
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidXqtKoK8J
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrzYRTmICx
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIHCB5siwy
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP8Ajq2nF6
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsjfMbIIXg
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFGSWPRFJJ
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiFJJn45lM
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaJjYL5LUH
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HhsxXktKj
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rXnIE4gzf
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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?117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMai8ws46US
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KFGAUfXHI
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgLER2YvmF
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYdODV9Cvv
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2olspM0Xyx
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSKCL0QYzL
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSbZlAhunP
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpADiBaW33
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpYI2GXSXu
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9si52ad98t
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ9g6BHfW6
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5DwiB1aCA
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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?"117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTpzDmsS2a
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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."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbA5MEFyCw
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG7rji6BM5
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAysACmCzVf
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjM91Yd6zA
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIg8bWP3Ud
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoZlubelXR
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ja7qqzMgM
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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.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9f7qzR3Np
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