touched his. Slowly she slid one
side of her face against his, then the other side. A hunger filled her.
It was almost as if she wanted to devour White Bear, but all she could
do was touch his smooth cheek with her fingertips.

His nostrils flared and his lips parted and she could hear his
breathing. His hands were roaming over her body, awakening powerful
feelings wherever he touched her, making her want more.

How did they come to be lying down? They must have moved without
realizing it. She could see, feel and think only of White Bear. Her head
was pillowed on his arm and her face was pressed against his. With his
free hand he caressed her, seeking her flesh under her jacket and skirt.
His hand became bolder, plucking at the laces that held her clothing
together, baring places that only a husband should look at as he was
looking now. And touching those places, sending ripples of delight all
through her.

And she wanted him to do that. She felt no shame or fear, only
happiness. She let him do whatever he wanted. She helped him. She moved
her hands also, to touch more of him. Her hand found the oak branch that
he had been holding just before she sat down with him. She put the
branch aside and let her fingers feel the hardness pushing against his
loincloth; he was ready to come into her in the way that Sun Woman had
explained.

She could still stop him if she wanted to. She knew him and trusted that
he would not do anything she did not want.

But she wanted this. She wanted his hand to go on skillfully preparing
the way for him. She wanted this golden glow inside her to fill her more
and more. This was happiness, and she was climbing toward a greater and
greater happiness. She felt him move, and all at once her hand was not
on his loincloth, but on his hot flesh. She wanted to open herself up to
the part of him she held so tightly.

Then he was upon her, and she felt a sudden stabbing pain. She cried
out. Almost at once his cry of pleasure followed on hers and his hips
thrust forward violently and she felt him filling her. He let out a long
sigh and relaxed, lying on top of her, resting all of his weight on her.

I am like the Turtle holding up the earth, she thought.

There had been mounting pleasure until her moment of pain. Now there was
an ache and a faint memory of the good feelings. She wanted more
pleasure. Sun Woman had told her it would hurt only the first time. And
that from then on it would be better