A/N: Yay! I haven't written one of these in ages. I miss them. haha. Anyhow, this is pure fluff which is needed considering all the grief I'm gonna have Cloud and Tifa go through in THE KILLING HAND.

Enjoy!

WORD OF THE DAY (May 29, 2011)

Toothsome

Adj. 1. Pleasing to the taste; delicious; as, "a toothsome pie." 2. Agreeable; attractive; as, "a toothsome offer." 3. Sexually attractive.

Cloud Strife was an attractive man under normal (all) circumstances. This was nothing new, and this fact was constantly attested to by the number of women (single and otherwise) who started frequenting the Seventh Heaven after he became a regular figure at her bar.

It was annoying to have so many eyes ogling at him—mine, biyatches, snarled her inner animal, which she of course never (rarely) let loose—but she bore with it because 1) they brought in good money and, more importantly, 2) they didn't dare do anything more than look.

It was fortunate that over the years, Tifa had managed to build up some sort of defense against him. Not an immunity, never that, but at least she was at the point where her brain functions were relatively normal around him. Until he touched her, that is, and once he discovered the joys of touching…well, let's just say that much of the time Tifa had alone with him was spent in a sensual daze. Not that she was complaining.

So yes, while Cloud was a tasty piece of eye candy, Tifa could usually hold her own. Usually.

Unfortunately (fortunately), today was destined not to be one of those days.

Her mouth felt dry and the thudding of her heart pulsed heated blood to the most intimate spots in her body because, hot damn, no one should look as utterly delicious as all that.

All eyes—male, female, attracted, envious, lustful, all—focused on him when Cloud strode through the bar doors with that self-assured stride. It wasn't arrogant or cocky, but it didn't need to be when every step he took was like pure sex.

Instead of his customary heavy cable-knit vest, he wore a sleek, deep burgundy shirt made of the finest flowing silk. The top button was undone and though it only showed the smallest triangle of skin, it tempted and taunted that the rest of his body would be just as smooth and touchable. His muscular legs were caressed by a pair of simple, but elegant black trousers that hugged his thighs, but not obscenely so.

But perhaps the thing that caught the most attention, besides all that toothsome goodness on display, was his expression.

Intent and deadly focused, his entrancing blue gaze never left Tifa's and she suddenly had the distinct impression that she was the prey to be hunted down.

He stopped just before the bar, and with that low rumble of his voice he used when he wanted to be obeyed without question, he said, "Bar's closed."

It was only two words, and would have been barely audible under normal circumstances, but on this occasion, as soon as the words were uttered, there was a mass scramble of people and chairs as people tossed their money on the tables in their rush to obey. Nobody wanted to mess with Cloud Strife when he looked like he was ready to rip apart anyone who came between him and his quarry.

Lucky Tifa.

Within minutes, the Seventh Heaven was empty of all customers and Tifa couldn't help the quiet yelp that squeaked out of her mouth when Cloud suddenly lifted her over the bar (who needs swinging doors when you can just go over?) and into his arms. His body heat seared through the leather of her bartending outfit, and, as expected, her brain completely scrambled.

"Hi," she eventually breathed out.

"Hi," he responded with just the slightest hint of a smirk playing at his lips. Ah, he knew too well the effect he had on her senses and usually Tifa would have smacked him for such arrogance, but right now, her knees were too weak to do anything.

But then his next words would have melted her anyway.

"Happy Anniversary, Tifa."

He then proceeded to show her exactly how happy of an anniversary it really was.

Thank you: .rEckLeSsLy. cOnFIneD., ToraTehNinja, et cetera et cetera, Spiritslayer, kerapal bubbles, Sacred3, vLuna, StrifeVsTribal, JessicaJ, alexzhou04