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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gx9zwvvkI
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnamS5LSJb
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi39XZG4pC
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgkP3sancz
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaU6eu3YEN
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8398X3RdG2
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhfQl3nOZs
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpwvnxWRpX
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MWhzp3zgg
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ6d5Ndmmh
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oIntrPijv
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrDJVP08E7
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwl9caRxGx
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNzZUKBURF
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHm0EQX4rs
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbK9U1OJFW
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGtyDuGiZm
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9e8CgcRA5
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOEkiJcWr4
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGKgG09DYK
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9jfWKzWs8
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7L40vDbSm
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OPCofXIfB
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraR8NcXLG0
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZKovETtem
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk75ADWxEl
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRpxSKPusZ
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNTpsvVMvh
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7ClZg81GS
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmWnDpQMUL
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNSe69HxHC
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFgAElB1Ly
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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...?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKXqAfwbqr
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yEBJNc3E9
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLo24krSBm
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyhXaVDZnZ
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjZp1XzPa3
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChzGSQQXQH
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuXTAym2OK
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeYdSHvFcE
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdgOYsLrI6
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4diMzoGRv
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6KEJw35lM
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGyCTJDhLY
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD4p2KlKnv
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yS0HZENdO
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap3LxIxe8z
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3iQGkpneq
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmqeEDfntf
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZDhhCTUqD
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNIvLo4tUu
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxg10k9hZg
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3C9suN1hA
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkLy5bvySS
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJslygb6ocI
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxrOdc5kmM
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJEUAnA5zv
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0DyH3Rnn3
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPgCXJ01YU
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtZr4yE4x7
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2Ln0wjFcj
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDTYi2pgVy
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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?50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ8gziEe0v
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85mCKpF8Cf
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PzlawpvRf
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jSA1CBNFP
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkuWQEyS60
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXXjgCDnte
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHsmlzL2zW
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrUk5s2lPu
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe1CH6oNTF
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLn9ZOzJut
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOHYZh4mK3
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTqGWO7Kfb
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmdPZA4vb4
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f8w56fcI8
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D0LUDyvVP
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNBHgT5fTb
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyl3JttKyL
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr4lLwXquN
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxL5qs5XhN
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdOHhzltmp
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKLpOAQ08P
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