Read V - The Original Miniseries for Free Online Page A

tan blazer, and the white blouse she wore looked soft, feminine. He noticed that she'd unbuttoned it at the throat. Donovan turned away from her, sipping his champagne. She edged back into the pit beside him, picking up the remote-control device for the television set. "Did you put the tape in, Mike?"
    "But you saw it on the network ..." "Yeah, wasn't it terrific! Play it again, Sam. One more time!"
She turned on the unit, reaching for the bottle at the same time. Donovan felt something cold splash on his leg and yelped. "Kris! Try to get it into the glass, for Chrissake!"
     
She made a face at the newsman on the screen. "We don't want to listen to you. Fast forward!" The television screen blurred and rippled.
     
Donovan laughed. "Your life is on fast forward, honey."
    They watched their tour of the Mother Ship, as captured by Donovan's camera. Kristine turned a mock-accusing face on Mike as Diana appeared on the screen. "There she is. Your girlfriend. You gave her more closeups than me!"
Donovan grinned at her, making no attempt to deny it. "She's got everything ... brains ... looks ... "And a figure that doesn't quit." Kristine laughed, watching Diana in profile. "But would you want your sister to marry a Sirian?"
    She punched the fast-forward button again, then when the screen resolved, Diana was looking straight at them, at close range. "See!" Kristine turned to Donovan, her glass held threateningly aloft. "Another closeup!"
    Donovan, laughing, tried to fend her off, but she was too quick for him, splashing a cold spatter of wine down the back of his neck. He made a grab for her, trying not to spill his own wine, finally managing to snag one of her wrists. Her empty glass dropped, falling onto the thickly sculpted carpet.
    Both of them were laughing as they struggled for the remaining champagne glass. Somehow Mike found himself sprawled on the couch, with Kristine pulled down on top of him-and the champagne still in his possession. The glass was still-miraculously-full, but Donovan had lost interest in drinking any more of it. He was too conscious of Kristine's gaze. Their eyes were only inches away.
Her voice was husky. "Mike ... why didn't it work for us before?"
    He shook his head, shrugging wordlessly, realizing that if he didn't intend to spend the night here, he ought to call a halt to this right now. It wasn't fair to Kris otherwise. But somehow, he couldn't summon the words.
"I'd like to try again, Mike." She leaned toward him. Her mouth tasted sweet from the wine.
    Donovan kissed her back, closing his eyes. Her body was alive and warm against his as he pulled her down beside him. One hand caught in the soft tumble of her hair as he drew her even closer. His other hand searched for the end table. He managed to set the glass down without spilling it.
3
ROBERT MAXWELL FROWNED AT HIS WIFE, KATHLEEN. "I THOUGHT Robin had to be there by now!" Kathleen was clearly rattled, but made an effort to project her usual calm confidence. "Take it easy, honey. She'll be ready in just a moment. Did you back the car out?"
     
"Yes!" Maxwell knew he was being bearish, but couldn't help it. His first chance to get a close look at the Visitors, and his daughter was holding him up. Teenagers! "What's the delay, Kathy?" "She found a spot on her band uniform, and she's trying to get it out. Calm down, honey."
    Their twelve-year-old, Polly, came down the stairs carrying her three-year-old sister, Katie. Maxwell gathered up his youngest, giving her an affectionate kiss, enjoying her soapand-water cleanliness. "Mmmm, you look pretty, sweetheart. Thanks for getting her ready, Polly."
"That's okay, Dad. She sure didn't want to wear that pink dress and those ruffled panties, though." Polly grinned at Katie, who shared her older sister's rough-and-tough ideas of apparel. Kathleen shook her head at Maxwell as he stooped to put his little girl down. "Don't. Just keep hold of her. If you put her down she'll be filthy inside of thirty