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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE1uvtgrNJ
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfgeiiklnT
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjJeps0aec
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvVg4TMy3y
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipetckDbOC
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YPfeHxKbA
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1lHNoGufH
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPELpKrkjTj
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S30RokrFZ
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6rvlzxdAy
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoLBQunYiq
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf8iai56hS
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJuP2msk1O
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeVbWT6o5q
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu8iCX2mze
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rBRslMxO2
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsyPzeehNI
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HouDyPfWh
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12cEVGgStE
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rX1o8KQ5u
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM394KK6Acc
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CpGSJFtic
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu2hNAHVPF
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeimEE2VjQ
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8EuzEmiYW
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8SbbC19TM
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp7HvgZ5Kv
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9GlWug50a
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl3kUjtPyZ
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjGbESN3kA
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOf2LFjqPj
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlLEBxmVvh
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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...?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWC2hoTbxg
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkadpEidP7
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQobiBzEyrF
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWHiUExZmW
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DxNZQqxrG
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vNsTGgfNN
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMHFpASjg3
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEOta8XKUy
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXv17jJNAN
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSP4K8TMgu
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNejZHc0oGM
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJQCRzh8zt
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsDk9b5fVO
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IchCVUQ0z
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1n4q1ZOQj
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z4isQwbXY
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG141N673bL
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLxlpl8gpx
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvybkRG1LvJ
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5fKqf7LEh
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJjrvRrg5G
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOPCh2kwhR
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9viVBX8mXq
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PFjsaYkpi
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4OSZHxLnC
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy71XsZaC6a
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSQs5HzzmO
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxclGqwC78
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNeiXcNi1X
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQXoClAcyZ
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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?118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYw7ovd9Pc
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1imGvVIwM
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG5ND4OSV9
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5MTQMv7Am
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8zW0st4Sc
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ulk06o7QX
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MSR19tdNc
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpEYqf8dbS
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVSqFj2Ep1
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdJz0q7Vzu
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIM6nciRfg
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNGGMl7x8F
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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?"118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd09WAnvUZU
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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."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFh9R0ZIfy
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRya6r2HNF
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu6mOcasjD
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqYC4MsEMM
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP1ypkoYdV
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwJg4oRiCc
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEbNdEBeOF
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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.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZyU9xUoay
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