Page 88 of Perfect Three

“Too much pain for my liking.”He kissed her shoulder.“Morning, Lou.”Then he stretched over to kiss Sebastian good morning.

Lucy said hello then looked back at Sebastian.“What’s a skin name?”

“It defines where you are in the tribe.When you have a skin name, anyiya-nyiya,everyone knows who you are in relation to everyone else.When you know a person’s skin name, then you know if they are your uncle, your cousin, your mother, or from another family group.You know immediately who’s related to who.As well, you know a person’s heritage, know if you could marry them, or if they were cousins.

“My skin name isJungarrayiand Jack isJakamarra.

“We also have secondary names.There is great respect attached to names.We never say the name of a person who has passed this world, no matter how long ago.Even if we have songs with that person’s name in them, we have to omit that line.”

“Why is that?Is it a form of respect?”

“A bit, but also because it will disturb their spirit or prevent it from leaving the world safely.”

“So you never say your grandparents’ names or your mother’s?”

“Never, nor do we look at a photograph.”

“I think I understand, and I’ve seen warnings on television that images of people who have passed will be shown.”

“Yes, it’s good they warn us.”

Lucy was grateful Sebastian liked her enough to share his history.“This is fascinating!I love learning all about it.”

“You’ll have to come with us next time we visit.It’s amazing and my family are wonderful.You’d like them.”

“I’d love it!”

“Come on, time to get up.You shower first, Lou.Jack can fix us breakfast.”

“I can, can I?”Jack laughed.He jumped out of bed and bowed.“Yes, my master.”

“Oh, you’re pushing it, sunshine.Can’t think how many punishments you just racked up.”

Jack just laughed.He turned, wiggled his butt at them, and walked naked from the room.A few minutes later, he was back with Lucy’s clothes which he put in the bathroom for her.When he came out, he threw Lucy a towel so she could wrap it around herself.She was grateful as she wasn’t used to wandering around naked like these two did.

After her shower, she walked into the kitchen where Jack worked and laughed.

He had an apron on but was still naked.

He snickered.“Don’t want to burn anything important.”

Sebastian banged on the wall so Jack left the kitchen, pecking on Lucy’s cheek as he went by.

Ten minutes later, they were all in the kitchen.Lucy sat on the kitchen bench after Sebastian lifted her onto it.It was a relaxed atmosphere as Jack organized their meal.Once he’d finished, they sat around the table to eat.

“You missed dessert last night, Lucy, or rather you were it.I’ll put them in a container and you can have them another time.”

Lucy blushed but thanked him.

Lucy thought Sebastian was attempting not to laugh at her embarrassment.He clamped his lips together with a huge smile on his face.“Love the way you blush, Lou.It’s so sexy.”

That caused her to go even redder, which made both men grin.

“You said you like bush-walking, Lucy.”

“Yes, although I’m not very fit at the moment.”

“We thought a walk through the bush near the Three Sisters might be nice this afternoon.”

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