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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgpTp2R0js
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5JIs6Icku
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lJJRpjKAQ
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGb3aNZmB4
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVGTqKVRqZ
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrcBOKdws6
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwWMzV3V7U
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJPPTj0dEZ
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNadwMNi5q
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF1qDRFwwc
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyciao5Pht
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5lh1inMwz
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOAuY6PRIE
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2gGhDbdtk
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTfNiWLJaT
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZxDk3hSmH
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwmJyVm0ab
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL9CHAmKmG
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMte3YgEwI
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGdvLn6kJM
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvL947OofF
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx5a25uzBZ
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8soMojTq0
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3KOrmGb7s
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMUuabxg2i
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpq1iAsL2p
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqgzsJllS8
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIWFe2k7CX
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2O9vVV463
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9l9tSUwis
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACZgqJu1li
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu5FmaDYgL
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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...?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vRJeBa2bM
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI81G8ljOqf
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2d8bfYYFh
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPdDdF2fd5
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9ZOjH5VAp
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMEpwaSdkN
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTPYfAleut
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps8r7S56Fd
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZqrJEvuv8
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC3ucCWiP9
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfGjCQKsIP
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzazjzJbL6H
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiHljsURxY
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FNWNIpuxt
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d3SyfmfVk
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPU3NVCVb5
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlzw4J8c7y
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTWKpkwRcS
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7DEevekYN
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRh0sV1cVI
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn569xJcXAf
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjmddSTCDl
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVT2WSqcQ5
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ViI1HnVkl
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SlGgcHvr7
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhdr4NfKql
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfH8DuRyEQ
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFCKIs31Mt
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQWEfLHL8x
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtwFHWzDoD
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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?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIToQI19zo
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVR6Qno1cU
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCJaRFiw3D
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48IXa7necr
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdy4ulTZpo
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HvlEng80t
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP5Fih5nBH
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf8Ax2PK09
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl1fnzBqVl
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEwCPCkqaZ
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYT08jG4SZ
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2D7993MvF
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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?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvjqukHoeM
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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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99aWxKHQ8s
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBTZrhJRoL
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG5sRTbVzq
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWKIEQugGP
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpP1VewA33
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdYvkfdh3p
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsb4PLUGXI
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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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh2YwfbqD7
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