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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHS4VuHHzq
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHisSGo4qNH
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1qMu6vCsb
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0JDQqh0Fj
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWZv0naoxZ
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUhUKLQOOy
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jDpYuhcim
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbteb0qC5g0
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH7DeOOq9m
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6lePFHQyR
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPeaOjVICT
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTt6uvFtXB
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGjpn7zTLY
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQCDoFmrxj
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLWbLR7rtC
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKV1FJOj2B
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7l6oJKodE
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi747fpZiw
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDyNcFgHRR
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HWRjdH34H
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gcNjtdvYF
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB1MYaeoJy
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjHNF22eXC
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG9BF97Qws
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyLjHMrjvO
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEHiIDnpFn
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB8SSAyCRN
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGoUJ0x6kR
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHvNuDIboQ
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNASCGzcMu
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ymjx9lqTN
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPEY9X2PSh
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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...?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnIfCCw5jL
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OZwv68Cd4
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQqDGpsck5
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhgczvl4m1
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvnQ1wJRRG
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibjkH4MU9q
"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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE6oG6Ut7m
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNUvfGZUSb
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP24Raf5ubn
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RXWJzGuX8
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ18Gubi5ci
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiOcbzbfgq
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCHMNp7HWY
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR1YSHRrCn
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7ENJhOs3y
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ3Psbd8tG
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAiFCjiP0F
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo0Itll35u
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zwajsptya
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75JHE1nL1V
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAHGBczNtq
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2BVb2c5gR
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbKtceQWct
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoVXwMo4En
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSo2lIYRSc
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdLwtXAqxl
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH73fVm6zN
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWugwIhncss
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE4ujHzK2s
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3mNOl3nH2
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjSyNSUnGk
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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?136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXRA1741Ty
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH99cq7LhM7
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5VC7cci0f
136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLAYqpu5C3
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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMVG4J6Dw1
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwe6CqQM7s
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ptdM2AjXH
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgel05EShj
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fEduYshKv
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZZdB0bGcQ
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7ZwvYxDpF
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATDKba6H6a
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI30Nsl9lVe
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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?"136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn6kQe9G80
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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."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82yVRPLWKi
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcUiunI2i7
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaFUoHurQP
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlsEAgZVz2
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7STJeoUu57
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c3a1VLEVW
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOlLDtURlk
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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.136Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyGMRZZXAV
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