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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9grdwZ9Tj
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BZR2bdnzj
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLBQ4y7pJ1
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWPhMiiKNU
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkL6uDqcJX
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfilUGdDPS
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRpzruVo06
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOU5teuvPV
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98x7ndPY9g
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHol9W4JSYs
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ208NzFhukf
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1ubsgyKsL
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXRGcUTfuf
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zIsaVEqt7
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVaeS4Nca8
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4GlJPZAHY
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwWXhF19sV
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkww69zaVj
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwoMup1Xic
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnk804fbg1
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCJVfVAy6W
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H4QJ8XWbd
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSsUEv4Vyq
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBAhj9BJoV
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaxaSSMVll
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9avv98njjH
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOixNPp3Iin
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9bPfuHT71
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G8qb14Jb8
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgYYKnU7Lf
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7SeqIr5uy
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcU0HNRwiN
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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...?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLP6dxoQ0l
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSACh0LCMJg
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KsIpldrXO
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h17rafUi7
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1ecVukq5O
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZDtcQsxFb
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtTfZS3yUl
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WGKm1ghZ4
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2mracLKN8
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikSpf1hZSx
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonOoJEcVvS
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WDdzHrlZO
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvupWZHRdV
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB9GvgHVk8
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCcg8pOUfV
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyR7nreyux
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZiZf2viwY
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6vx3KR4Q6
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2leOR5bt43
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uvMQTufVV
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnILokWjzt
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBBuBaNOQr
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jy2O8s86f
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiszbjcT0xE
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x7WcCmm4C
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOhFwURIEN
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcY8JcTlytR
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjalWndpyk
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRG8n6OqjC
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq4jvZA0ZP
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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?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07VtI1iLNb
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OnMDv9AW0
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq3axeQyss
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoSX2u4dzm
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc3sWfxVni
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31quuJzQJH
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5QVUCFiyK
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T0auLFBI3
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUGXIFgE3i
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92ASh7GRSx
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJBru8e9w5
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kZarYNCJT
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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?"47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHjKygm9bt
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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."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddYrmEhH3G
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHnyk8UdNt
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaApLSBE2qm
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNP1IE6Cij
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v1aeoDWc5
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSLnaBxT7K
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAp1Mr4rth
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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.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl78AHaQI9r
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