Warhol's Prophecy

101

CAROLINE HACKET SAT back from the table, and patted her stomach appreciatively.

‘That was a beautiful meal, Adam,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

‘My pleasure,’ said Walker, raising his wine glass. ‘It’s surprising how easy it gets when you’re cooking for yourself every day.’

‘Tell me about it. I’m just grateful for microwaves and frozen meals,’ Caroline chuckled.

She eyed him over the kitchen table, watching as he sipped at his wine.

‘Perhaps next time you’ll let me cook you a meal,’ she said.

He nodded almost imperceptibly.

‘There is going to be a next time, isn’t there?’ she persisted.

Walker met her gaze. ‘Of course,’ he told her.

‘You don’t sound too sure.’

He finished what was left in his glass and pushed it away empty.

‘It’s a nice house,’ Caroline said, aware that his mind was elsewhere. ‘It must get lonely here, though.’

‘Do you get lonely?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘I’ve been on my own for so long now, I prefer it that way. Did Hailey tell you about this house?’

Caroline looked puzzled.

‘She mentioned it briefly, but . . .’ She allowed the sentence to trail off.

‘You know what happened here, don’t you? You said that Hailey had told you.’

‘Yes, she did, and I know she’s treated you badly since. She knows that she was wrong.’

Caroline got to her feet and walked around the table towards him. She stood behind him, gently massaging his shoulders with her slender fingers.

‘Does her husband know?’ Walker asked.

‘Why don’t you forget about Hailey?’ Caroline said, a slight note of irritation in her voice.

Walker stood up suddenly, turning to face her.

‘Why?’ he said. ‘So I can concentrate on you?’

He pulled her face towards him and pressed his lips against hers, feeling them part, feeling her tongue anxiously seeking his.

He slid one hand between her legs, brushing the inside of her left thigh, allowing his fingers to climb higher until they touched the soft cotton of her panties.

Caroline pushed herself against him, surprised by the ferocity of his kiss.

When they finally parted, she was panting.

He kept his hand between her legs, fingers stroking softly, expertly.

‘Is this what you want?’ he said, looking into her eyes.

She nodded.

He slid two fingers beneath the gusset of her panties, stirred the moisture there, then lifted those same two digits to her mouth and touched them gently against her lips.

‘Taste yourself,’ he said softly, watching as she licked his outstretched fingers, her tongue flicking over his wet digits. Caroline closed her eyes, her breathing now ragged.

He held her face between his palms and kissed her lightly on the lips.

‘You should go,’ he whispered.

Her eyes jerked open. Walker was smiling.

‘Now?’ she said, almost incredulously. She opened her mouth to say something else, but he put a finger to her lips to silence her.

‘Now,’ he repeated.

She stepped back from him slightly, trying to control her breathing.

‘I can stay if you want me to,’ she told him.

‘Another time,’ he smiled.

She ran a hand through her hair.

‘You really are a puzzle, Adam,’ she told him, touching his cheek.

‘It’s not the right time,’ he explained. ‘I’ve got things on my mind. Besides, we’ll have plenty of other nights together.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she told him. ‘I should have realized. With what happened to your father and . . .’

‘It’s not your fault,’ he told her.

She managed a smile.

‘So, you’re throwing me out, are you?’ Caroline joked.

‘Yes, I am.’

He walked her through to the hall, helped her on with her coat, then pulled her to him again. Once more she was surprised at the passion of his kiss.

‘You’re a bastard,’ she told him, grinning.

He looked at her indignantly.

‘For sending me home like this,’ she continued.

‘I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow,’ he said.

‘The gig doesn’t start until nine. Let me cook you a meal tomorrow, before we go.’

He kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘We’ll go in my car,’ he said.

‘No, let me drive. I—’

He cut her short. ‘My car,’ he insisted.

She nodded.

He watched as she turned and headed back to the waiting Saab.

Watched her slide behind the steering wheel and start the engine.

Watched her drive off.

He closed the front door and made his way back through the hall, but he bypassed the kitchen and made straight for his study.

The smell of paint was welcoming and he shut the door behind him.

His latest canvas was positioned in one corner of the room. It was already close to completion. Walker looked at it for long moments, taking in every detail, his face expressionless.

It was huge: fully fifteen feet across, and half that again in width.

But this was for no eyes but his.

Not yet.

It was almost complete.

Almost ready.

He studied it again and smiled.