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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QSAkncZ8E
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz45dESH4j
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UVur5MK14
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I5liMWTLr
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM50h71udG
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOlmUjyXXq
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZkyWUR4LC
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyfekQbW8t
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0aB0ppv7T
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3O1mDP5EU
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHwHsjsvVG
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCofsJQoMbg
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SckqH5Lle
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8X2kWBQyt
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9OkuMc8ky
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfefTsevqyE
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG3zN8AIoW
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gb9LW4Foe
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcKP4XElHH
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7hYy7Y1is
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmTVUmc6I7
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB843wcaXDQ
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFTn8Dq9rB
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWOkUGE3qe
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dPZ7smYsc
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfJHpJdG45
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKan6B6uDB
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4scXwUBNXp
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxseJoZMslt
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotnerwoxKH
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCkn9Y0ZzN
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC4qnVxD7Y
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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...?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy4vNzieLu
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hvzi3pJ2q
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfWNMgofuE
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48j1fvQUag
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47HIcjQ7Ek
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4UkBLhRav
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tPAhIswbA
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS4W9DMtYL
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VDOhaNugU
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe2zWPcRlk
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XRvibXtJs
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z9AiUsfZg
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt2sAh528Q
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcJyQB1GeL
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoSMP73xPU
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fLfTwFlTE
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FJ97QH79y
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51iHkd0Dbe
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mbIBrWR92
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch8xCRy9d3
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4U2dmpmnq
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P7xbjBN79
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb6zL7dlTR
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDykzpFZxuz
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfhcThR1Ns
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbn8GunSFr
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2NidgiwW4
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAwaJGfGbC
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbglevOHcs
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XLkySLXO8
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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?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBvgXE9xlE
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPqUPhRioK
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pmEGu8PVp
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuKZnCwi4i
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLPhCGMZDy
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡce9MZ2zM8r
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfLtLHqQbE
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpyJ8X3CnN
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgoFdFDquN
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznfKedFQv0
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTXUUTXmoo
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfdpNz1OYI
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO0sRfsTho
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAXkgxtzxi
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnJF6qoygJ
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6OWpx2DfZ
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRSsLLpImt
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMARJ5CYgKt
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FkCVeKt1T
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo91TNhLEq
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYiCGl2Lk0
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