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Her ears heard, but she was too lost in the eyes that held her, too moved by her body’s response, to notice his words She saw him bend closer, then put his mouth on hers, and she felt him put his arms around her and draw her close

“Jondalar,” she breathed “I like that … mouth on mouth”

“Kiss,” he said “I think it’s ti furs

“Time?”

“First Rites,” he said

They sat down on the furs “What kind of ceremony is it?”

“It is the ceremony that makes a woirl what to expect and that it e for her to become a woman They choose the man for it Men want to be chosen, but some are afraid”

“Why are they afraid?”

“They’re afraid they will hurt a woman, afraid they will be clumsy, afraid they won’t be able, that their woman-maker won’t rise”

“That an? It has so many names”

He thought of all the naar or humorous “Yes, it has many names”

“What is the real name?”

“Manhood, I guess,” he said after a ht, “the same as for a man, but ‘woman-maker’ is another”

“What happens if the manhood won’t rise?”

“AnotherBut most men want to be chosen for a woman’s first time”

“Do you like being chosen?”

“Yes”

“Are you chosen often?”

“Yes”

“Why?”

Jondalar smiled and wondered if all her questions were the result of curiosity or nervousness “I think because I like it A woman’s first time is special to me”

“Jondalar, how can we have a ceremony of First Rites? I am past my first time, I am already open”

“I know, but there is ”

“I don’t understand What more can there be?”

He sain, then leaned closer and put his mouth on hers She leaned toward him, but was startled when his ue try to reach inside her mouth She backed off

“What are you doing?” she asked