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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9wCrgL3dW
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6ZREgSGsx
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Ethan twisted a lock of her hair in his fingers, trying to avoid meeting her piercing gaze. "What?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFj8GXT018
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"Can I ask you some questions?" Hanna asked gently.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwiXCtVxXM
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"What kind of questions?" Ethan asked back tentatively.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWX2dRvuqy
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Hanna bit her bottom lip, as if she anticipated refusal. "Questions about you, about being Charax, about the heat."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EXgVlaj2k
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6Re24wqwr
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Hanna smiled back at him eagerly. "What was in the pill bottle, the ones you took on the way here?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO5Nt2JVIX
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Ethan relaxed a bit. This was a more straightforward question than he had been expecting. "Sleeping pills," he answered honestly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0MnyWEXYK
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"Special Charax sleeping pills?" Hanna asked.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe4XdgI1M0
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqDUAD5cAx
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"Ever since the heat started?" Hanna suggested.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM79NxZVpDT
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Ethan's smile vanished. "Yeah, it's one of the symptoms."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPQGDy3yNx
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"So does that mean there are other symptoms besides...?" Hanna gestured downwards vaguely.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXDLUa4BHG
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"Besides the arousal?" Ethan sighed at the reminder. "Yes, and they get worse the longer it goes on."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLzRZNebSU
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zn27zp5jd
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"I was talking about longer without sex," Ethan clarified.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmhTuAFkZd
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Hanna nodded back. "Right, what are the other symptoms then?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4chT6OjoQw
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsEp34KG9Z
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFJr0MHKtU
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAckWThGy3
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"Insomnia, fever, mild tremors, restlessness." Ethan gave her the short list, the certain list.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw9QF85zZM
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"That doesn't sound fun," Hanna replied sympathetically.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7kMj2HRJO
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD2ZbmKv4o
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Hanna nodded slowly. "So how do you usually deal with it?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CrNbEiLeF
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Ethan paused hesitantly. "I haven't had to before."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnqlGmZGcF
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"It's your first heat?" Hanna asked, surprised.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQSSWrn0JQ
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"Yeah, it usually starts about my age," Ethan answered.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HNQSc0Wxx
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BcXtOVWYw
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yVwmReGoo
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeZxuJYNnh
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"My parents always went on vacations together to isolated places," Ethan offered finally.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZENp5XCH1B
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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...?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqChimHUtjK
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjvivAgQAc
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZE2pnH8DB
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddEggm9XPF
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqerfBaQPzH
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQUfVw611B
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYCC5kKsid
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Ethan consciously released her arm, slightly embarrassed. "The memories aren't very clear. Maybe a week, maybe a month, but..."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PjKzGaIQT
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"But what?" Hanna prompted.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9E3YpYden
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Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "Those trips they went on. My mom always came back pregnant."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5cA8xCtQh
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"Always?" Hanna raised a skeptical eyebrow.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4wsMg2CLa
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"Always," Ethan confirmed.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S3Gz5WPJm
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Hanna tilted her head slightly. "That seems odd."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tle6LY4f1
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9y7DyRleb
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAX8mpfg92
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Ethan looked at her skeptically. "What trigger?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUplVHsB4s2
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"Do you think pregnancy triggers the end to the heat?" Hanna clarified.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfQm1m1uUn
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxhGmPq9zw
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vBKpZiENt
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZztGnLNXh
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB68odvkGgk
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8emsYVan2M
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp400eIDLA
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr5l8JHetU
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"So?" Hanna prompted abruptly. "Could it stop the heat?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSqG3FnT1l
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lszJYRtYp
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Hanna shrugged slightly. "I guess it doesn't matter, that isn't going to happen anyways."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPaEjV1QYx
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"What?" Ethan lifted his head up to get a better look at her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8wvSLQV3K
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmOLC2AD8E
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"Oh," Ethan uttered in a small voice, her answer driving home how idiotic he'd been.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWRqHGB4we
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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?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfCv4O8ZEJ
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Hanna noticed his troubled expression. "Ethan? Is that a problem?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgp7jYh3YW
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYiid9mYPn
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBn4ftsWpC
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Ethan still looked troubled. "You're sure?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cahziELPL
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"I'm certain," Hanna reassured him confidently.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5GGoxIsiA
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoabssXJGZ1
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Hanna smiled suggestively. "I don't mind."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiqd6BchOl
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNdet0UdyE
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kwS7qe3Hb
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"Twenty to twenty three months usually," Ethan corrected her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9HGw3ASeS
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"And aren't the heat cycles a lot shorter?" Hanna asked.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqrzjybTPv
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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?"46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jB5w99dRq
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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."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniq8Xhk49y
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"Okay?" Ethan replied uncertainly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQYIAneJnD
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Hanna sat up and stretched out her arms. "I'm going to go clean up."46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gHtJCaiVL
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"Okay," Ethan mumbled, pulling to blanket over himself.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2rIRJE7bs
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM6qk7Opgx
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM1xnm9Cve
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He doesn't enjoy it, even now, she thought sadly. How's he going to be in a week?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtPLqZvYCF
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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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQUdTatL1N
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