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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8waoVYyVS
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3kWTP4qur
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L3Jhgt4Pv
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRYlJ2Myzv
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJteVsLZFuf
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsyTVYgjPh
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyESyRKQaHu
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMxeDaf9HG
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrERF96pnE
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO3kbV63EM
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdTNGG6DZT
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOActrYf1w
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fWCVmymjT
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GMvtaTCs1
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJksFztnbc
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOAXjfAf2l
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwjtPvmwtY
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtLJ0wIWab
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCClCTSZxCQ
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0n8R8ADo3
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBqVzgMO4R
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIagYJckCA
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMyHSM1Pat
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpzMNOpFth
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylpf8XqV8y
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0JbH19eUL
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56zwkdn1QD
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8medgLtEos
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtw5O605Cs
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVzn1Oa7N4
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AthxwGGFb
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTmyfkcV5e
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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...?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9rwH9SVoc
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXITMxGN9p
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f5NMBJXbA
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy7O4ezOWj
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuecBDB31S
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tkvWYIMf4
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7IRmzLX38
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtYH7LPHSP
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyVAyMVJMD
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOTicwRSuU
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjU0Ng9eUo
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTckMTOTs3B
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSCSnWvljQ
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1ii9vEMUJ
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4QY7a9Ylj
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln8hoQf9Ff
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOq2y9FjmG
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEtFwY72le
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9P52qY4Gu
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmgdoDKKEy
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhzPCQxxQ7
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiZ9afsM6Y
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY2cp4rd77
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmehUSz5Ue1
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYEZCjYn9w
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHDDrI7pOs
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlAumwYITw
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kw2JuNVJ8
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v0K7y2VWo
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDEgTJBFzC
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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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAUJpNWv8Y
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf4uNSwPLj
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldVX35ixDE
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNl9yhR4fX
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrzglDpGnk
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpL66bQZsb
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJtpkpwQih
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd0d481xTg
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJbYO8qwd4
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz38jMB7nmd
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZrKcImyTb
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXFBKlZZo4
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bR3vTraeh
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhuHAG35kq
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN37ma6rIeo
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ3G4QoEXN
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfbtd0IEoP
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOonINT7uMV
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHDD25M4mY
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofpdojkz5j
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoL10Pyslx
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