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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkymL6DbJ8C
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNlwyNWzS7
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDMMEsxJEi
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG9WKPiuUp
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy003Yqu7v
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyZGCr3ZGd
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69k431eRzX
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa3kMDvjOl
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtK57Imh0w
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMmCkRYHxQ
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0BPx1LJFR
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzLHcPo3Gi
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY6ItHem6g
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKDv0OLFmy
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYCp8tuRWh
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31j7Re5r4R
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7G4oDOclq
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xLyebgnPl
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA3E6w47R6
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8o65xmWH5
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQcLY5Nioa
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtvz1xa7jF
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uv2w3aQa5
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpxzH7fZDK
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXA6vjx6US
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LCPRt3TCZ
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPLXJOucpW
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VxCPNd8su
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcv6C7EEg4
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1a4jQ9ibO
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iXJp6Z3ti
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9xEaPaHti
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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...?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVoAPB2lrl
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAamgppPDe
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlTYQMuSbe
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiYMXJhm7W
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiXDw0fzuQ
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFcv9Ymedf
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRVRVhPkzw
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zllezAWOb
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApHanmFlM7
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIHWAWidJY
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeHjpHD18K
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRxNRjkBUn
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUKrYeA6R9
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVchcX1lap4
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqL6jN1Pet
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1kwzlYJkO
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jG3sL8Lgt
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaafUv2uDk
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9atsDxpGT3
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUvoSxf9Bd
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkoSfSi2dx
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ix85JDic
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYI6JDrP6P
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItxsYTmxGs
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNlmIeC4Sa
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWJUrrJwHt
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAj6vGZjDu
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1ft0U0KJV
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWltZyYcsj
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUNEZ4Lmpc
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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?107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub2oYOHIb6
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPNxGdeUUL
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNuu97dsm7
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqf1yM3xmg
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWqVV4cFdp
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz1ZS1NHfY
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6TLQzgy2T
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3QzZQN9co
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNmO2d739v
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUngk805Mv6
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeDLEk9yB2
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW0BBwBDe4
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzqYvnDxkB
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ppxgFYVR
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK4A7s61cW
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P95oAB3jN
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4cSR2It2z
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvKEx1lrSB
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRNz18j9bQ
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSRvg5u2Hr
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T3CktFifU
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