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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2FinLUoHX
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf99WCkHVI
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNNTPEHdYp
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa4HUAin1v
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvX8bgGc9U
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMNU0KlzKM
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdykE8kq8mI
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt45Xlnfydv
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMpcMrL2LZ
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6tNf8XHfj
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnmy8dtBco
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj2YPIH2aV
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDhLn49edm
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOQnUtEwak
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc8mb1bdqv
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThChtAuBLJ
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yTyhFXuaA
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEWeOupK1H
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3CMTSYC9a
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QDONhv7NL
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWEJTFwIAv
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOJY2zHBXO
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLPqwaTNbU
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSuWJOdNhs
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKqjUG98fj
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1DkSLHfVB
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEoe6IHDen
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7KEYwAQIw
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGYbTHxvZ7
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB6v0RHQ8z
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lBREbclNK
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBpgldf4NO
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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...?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI3DSimrNF
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZAB9cW3Yx
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33hzLA19Ir
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqA08wW3t5
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17tgFOMBR6
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCBeSwkv0c
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3PIiXf9B7
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcyYTOkfTx
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bIqvuWuZS
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORY5DXZgR1
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL23nEaXn3x
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmeHIaPMuD
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7zdPJC0rs
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bULo7a0aQ
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDNNJt6Wzv
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj2p3NJOLK
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDwY0ULQQW
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vEKov3zLC
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacve2KOy5I
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCeW6qEzEY
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPpy27SJqk
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJJNgMDZva
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a39bnOktw
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14TcSJfPnH
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65l6Cj6FhT
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSi8Pr5Ee4
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevIrYj3A9f
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG0ERat4kk
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqQ7jSa1Lh
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrTDhUcRYh
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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?57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFoQigG7eE
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCqC4soOrf
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw6LGlkuxc
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzwl9PQvKZ
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU6ugGe0IO
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNWyue9tgV
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJpSY6XMFr
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyiQwbByoV
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStBrlPv46v
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzDmiJo8D2
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJEp156lcy
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPfnB9ZNMh
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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?"57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0tcVPS00e
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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."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmxwepegYs
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYFoUCZETM
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdD5e2rPCi
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHzd15TSQf
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BjAzhET7O
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LJk9gh2cr
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9rvQsiIdj
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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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7PeQjRse4
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