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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzd0BN7ZfV
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsuL9qAcK0
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePI3vxDfyE
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTUR0QpLmp
"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GSPdyZLm4
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDalHwAyH7
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjeu2xDoIG
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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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK0iDzgJxe
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K5EZvsY4H
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWpyhBpbdJ
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzr7g40WWN
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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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNXeZhfAyL
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfVXa7NhrI
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hJnvJh9lo
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrJYZHUxRL
"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnoOte3ucz
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPkH9reJdo
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA00XMeeM89
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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcVbf9u5eY
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs9nzCUJys
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL4HdNoG41
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv6iRCLQhE
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSO4re1YXz
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8e3Jj0VrR
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0iumAq1wT
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg7MgeVIRa
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3d9065gou
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgnknZSCcD
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWK7queTB6E
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZesdPamcn
"It isn't," Ethan mumbled in agreement, before realizing he'd spoken aloud. "But it's not that bad," he added quickly.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xr7wxc5uo
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhzBzrBwGw
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR191s0kTYq
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfg8ajU7aB
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlAMoIQrG6
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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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAob7o32yza
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojmc5SujCi
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3tDhZTXZZ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94PQxif8RI
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K3D7SZEuK
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Me8sUZP9K
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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...?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISDFFGPS0S
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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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YCD2ZqbgL
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMV4GNx1Qp
"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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI001iEhA18
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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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FpgNfpVv7
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xzvF20z9o
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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDLfpt7iuq
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzLy6k7VrF
"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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFVkdX7QNH
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJJoGvNEF5
Hanna glanced at his hand. "Let's not jump to any conclusions just yet. How long did your parents' trips last?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbNnHcBXLa
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ipKAKwHk9
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JU9hRLEPt
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlLEwoXng5
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh7ZdcVTQA
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMYBLaEGSZ
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dg0J9mOaV
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh9iFAcrz8
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMi3NIzmjF
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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Pd8XAtNr
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsME65hlGi6
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUM3pIah0K
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOB376orXE
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9WXYjRUWx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlaWGkySgW
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJYsOTybpQ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKONamBelr
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDWU6E0jde
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa465yxd8JA
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCtrl4340c
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6wMHudDSV
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFglfoAomX
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdoZ2k84KQ
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCxtGGceSK
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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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5NhbAkIdv
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZobyD4vPQM
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ380sdgyFWN
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZJSSQrfRP
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaITVb6s6Bj
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqqjSmxSB7
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?138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCVMDib8DF
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESwjl5UyQF
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSPdZX4LJV
"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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0RQxdTbWU
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjqxhh8hlp
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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RTFGsb1M7
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkkiD1VBbc
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn7xCrb9Ty
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTBQjPSY5J
"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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjXiyKCFbJ
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1bQXoRIQn
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5OLspIKZ0
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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEwONy69uy
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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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkCRaAgh5T
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY0AVEiMzx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR86UWhfdK
"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7PQpDG33a
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52wDhyFql2
"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?"138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIIsx0RWkK
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWZeDWXwjx
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."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZoSNOBwd3
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTRcdZeTY7
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRShTgAhIAx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3UhVXfso4
"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ308NHg5Adw
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVRH5csZAF
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciiFxR0Qzr
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pCFlftmCy
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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1ZL5jtohR
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww9ebtBMGX
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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.138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6pfnvjdTP
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