We Haven't Met Before?


Graham Miller glanced around the living room of Lowell House. It was yet another frat party - they were endless at UCSunnydale. It just so happened that this week it was HIS frat having the party. That always had its good points and its bad points. On the good side, it would be easy to slip away if the Initiative needed him in the lab below. However, on the other hand, if some drunken co-ed wanted to poke around where he didn't belong, he could find himself staring at the barrel of a gun, and that wasn't a good way to end a party.

Graham sighed. He enjoyed parties for the most part, but he wasn't ever a big group of people kind of person. Not like Forrest Gates. Forrest could work a room all night long, never stopping to talk to one person for more than five minutes, and love every second of it. Graham preferred to sit down with a person and a cup of coffee and talk well into the night.

Graham, who was constantly observing people and situations, glanced around. Forrest was leaning against a doorframe, talking to his latest object of lust. Riley Finn was in the middle of the room, his arms wrapped around his girlfriend Buffy Summers. The tiny Slayer had her eyes closed and her head on his chest, a look of content on her face. Graham was happy for Riley...it was time his commander found someone who could make him happy

Buffy's friends were at the party too...Riley and Buffy had pointed them out to him earlier in the night. Xander Harris and his girlfriend Anya were over in the corner, making out - as if no one else in the world existed. Buffy mentioned that her best friend Willow Rosenberg was coming, but hadn't made it yet.

Graham glanced towards the door and inhaled slightly, his eyes darkening and his heart picking up. There she was. It was Red; the girl that broke through the cool exterior that was Commander Graham Miller. Her flowing red hair was fire against her pale skin, begging to have fingers run through it...begging to be pulled. She had pouty lips that could touch skin with the sweetest tenderness ever known, or with such a bruising intensity that you ached the next morning. He'd seen her several times around campus and at various parties the last few months, especially since Riley and Buffy started dating. She never approached him, never acknowledged she even knew him.

That was one of the reasons Graham stayed away. The most important reason was the difference in the way she carried herself from last year, when they met before. She was beautiful, just as she was now Her clothes were drastically different. Last year, she wore all leather - showing off the beautiful body underneath. This year, she wore mostly bright skirts and shirts and other articles of clothing that covered up her curves. This year, she seemed...self-conscious. She would sit alone on a couch, sometimes conversing with Xander or Buffy. He'd seen her laugh with Riley - apparently, they were friends. She never looked like she was really enjoying the party.

Graham closed his eyes, remembering the night the year before...wishing she'd look him in the eye and acknowledge that she remembered it too.

*-*-*-*

"Bored now."

Commander Graham Miller spun around, cursing his stupidity. He'd gone away from Forrest and Riley and decided to hunt on his own. Granted, the men were close, so if they were needed, they were just a yell away - but Graham knew, just as well as they did, that a vampire could strike faster than that.

His mouth hit the ground when he saw the speaker of the voice. She was beautiful - fiery red hair, pale skin, and dark pouty lips. "Bored?" he asked softly.

"Yea," she whined. "This town is a drag. How can you stand it?"

He shrugged. "It's not that bad," he replied, stepping a little closer. She was intoxicating. He could smell the scent that was uniquely hers: the leather, the vanilla, and an underlining scent; one he couldn't identify. He knew, however, that he definitely wanted her.

"Not that bad?" she smirked. She looked Graham over, noticing his green camouflage. "What's up with the Commando look?"

Graham frowned, glancing down. He looked back up at her. "My job," he shrugged.

"You are a soldier. There are soldiers walking around Sunnyhell? Whatever for? What are you protecting hu...er...us from?"

"Things that go bump in the night," Graham replied cryptically. He smiled at her. He couldn't pull away from her intense green eyes. He would swear they were lined in a yellow - absolutely gorgeous. She had dangerous eyes; he could see the darker emotions glittering within their depths. "I'm Graham."

"Call me Red," she purred, sliding up to him.

"Red," Graham repeated. He grabbed her arms and pulled her against him. She was tiny, nowhere near a match in physical size to him, yet Graham could feel the muscles under her skin. He instinctively knew that her size was no indication of the true power she held. He didn't notice that her skin was cooler than usual, that this girl wasn't human anymore.

She gazed up at him, running her hands up his massive chest. "Graham," she purred. "I haven't see a man as...big as you in a long time..." She pouted. "Puppy isn't big anymore. He refuses to eat, unless I make him."

"Puppy?" he asked softly.

"My...toy.... back home."

Graham grinned. "Somehow, Red, I'm not surprised you have a toy."

"You sense it? My...dangerousness?" she asked.

"It intrigues me."

"You make me smile," she purred. "Not much in this town does that."

Graham ignored all the warnings in his head and leaned down and kissed her.

Their time together was short, but passionate. Graham gave himself completely, something he'd never done before. He made her body quiver with anticipation and quake with passion. When their mating was complete, they both slowly dressed, touching and kissing. "Red, will I see you again?"

She smiled. "Perhaps." She kissed him again. "Goodbye, Graham. I hope you have fun hunting whatever it is that you hunt at night." She chuckled and walked away.

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