Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: I'm back with an update! I'm still on my creativity hiatus overall—meaning I am writing and planning stories, but not updating them. However, Play the Game is well, fair game, as it's just a shameless smut between Cloud and Tifa. With the Final Fantasy VII Remake delayed, and finally getting the demo this week, I decided to update this story for Cloti Fans on the FinalHeaven Discord Server.

In the last chapter, Tifa was left very frustrated by Cloud, who refused to kiss her after the Sex with the Bartender drink. I got a lot of positive feedback, but my favorite is from the wonderful Caramel Van Gogh on the Cloti Discord Server. I love her over enthusiastic and entertaining comments on the last chapter.

Potato's words: "I JUST WANT TO TALK!" while explaining her love-hate relationship with the cocky Cloud after reading chapter 3 has me laughing to this day. Her frustration helped inspire the beginning of this new chapter, as Tifa plots her revenge. So this update is dedicated to my dear friend! Also, much gratitude to Denebola Leo for being the beta reader.

Let's get on with the game, shall we?

The title of the story was inspired by Queen's song 'Play the Game'.

-. Play the Game .-

Chapter IV: The Blow

That man…

THAT. MAN.

That man cheated last night!

Tifa silently fumed as she waited for the coffee to finish brewing. She had to be quiet in order not to give away to that man that she was indeed awake. She couldn't face him now, not without a plan in mind for their game. The last thing she expected was him holding out on her like he did, teasing her with that cocky smirk on his handsome face. A smirk that needed to be slapped off of his perfect face.

Why is he playing so hard to get over a kiss? He had so much willpower against her last night with her little show—both the dress, the drink, and his desire to screw her on top of the bar. It was one of the most wonderful nights between them in a long time, and it ended up making her feel worse than ever. Tifa had never done anything like that before, and he had to throw the rules in her face.

The barmaid enjoyed making the drinks, and the flirting game that emerged from it. The sensual touches she received from him as he played with her, boiling from months of tension between them. It all led to last night, and he still didn't kiss her!

No way was she just going to make the move to kiss him first now. What to do? In her anger, she decided on payback, but how?

There was only one strategy she had left in the game: she had to give him a taste of his own medicine. It'd be the only way to get even, and eventually, the kiss she desired. She tilted her head to the side, watching the last drops of her brewed coffee finish up. But the drink to get this to happen, it had to be different. It had to be...a complex approach to throw him off too.

Then it came to her. How to play with him again.

That's the one!

She giggled softly to herself, laying out the plan in her head. Yuffie definitely had an influence on her to come up with this on her own. Pouring herself a cup of fresh coffee, she moved back to the stairs to hide out in her bedroom.

Tifa had to get her plan in motion before the bar was set to open later today.

The game was still on.

There was no doubt about it. Tifa was still pissed at him for last night.

She avoided him all morning by staying in her room. Just as he woke up, he heard her door close, and a welcome scent of coffee filled the air in the kitchen when he came down the stairs. He had just missed her, and decided it was best to hide out in his office all day. The kids were still gone, and catching up on paperwork until the storm blew over with his girlfriend seemed to be the best plan.

It's not like he didn't want to kiss her. He was planning to last night as he parked Fenrir in the garage. Cloud just wasn't expecting to come home to Tifa offering herself on a silver platter. When he was following through on their game for her...choice of drink, she got too bumptious.

"Don't get too cocky, Strife," Tifa replied with a chuckle. "I'm winning so far."

"Oh yeah?" He countered back.

"Now that I know how to play this game, I can have all of you. This drink is doing just the trick."

"I see."

It just ignited his inner need to be subversively cocky back to her. She always enjoyed it when he got cocky in the heat of the moment. But he made the wrong call last night by taking the game too far.

"Tifa, I did exactly what the drink said, so I don't know why you're upset with me," Cloud teased her with the innocent act he put on.

The brunette scoffed. "Because you're cheating again."

"No, I'm not. But you can just kiss me if you want to, since you want it so bad."

"Not interested!"

He was regretting not kissing her now, but he just wanted to play more. Flirt more. That dress and drink did throw him off, as it was too much, too soon for their new start. But he did push her to her limit break with dilly dallying for far too long. It's what he always did: dilly dally.

Sighing, Cloud put down the pen and flipped his accounting book shut. To fix this, he had to man up and go talk to her himself. He's the one that did the most damage when she was at her most daring after all.

Still seated in his chair, an upbeat knock sounded at the door. Was she really coming to him? Maybe making up will be a lot easier… He turned his chair, welcoming her into his room. "Come in."

As the door slowly opened, Tifa began to speak as she pushed the wooden pane. "You've been up here all day, figured it might be time for a small drink break."

Upon sight of her beauty, his jaw slightly dropped.

Uh oh.

She's dressed up again.

Tifa stood there with a small tray balanced on her hand, wearing an all too familiar white crop top with a black sports bra underneath. Her usual suspenders in place over her shoulders held up the pleated leather skirt, revealing the little beauty mark high up on her exposed abdomen. The small dot transfixed him since he hadn't seen it in months. Well, except for last night, but he was distracted by her other beauty. The usual white top she wore went much lower, covering up the sweet spot.

And those ebony thigh highs again...he remembered the feeling of those with her legs wrapped around his waist. Now she was wearing that little skirt again that provided the easiest access when they ran all over Gaia.

And her hair, those chocolate strands were tied up in a high ponytail. A few locks loose that accented her cheeks, but she only wore her hair like this when she was deep cleaning the bar. Besides her hairdo, her choice of no shoes or gloves seemed out of place in her appearance. Was she just wearing the mere essentials for a sexy callback?

Gripping her thighs, he positioned himself so she could lock her legs around his hips. "Cloud…" she huskily said his name as he entered her.

"Cloud?" Her red orbs peered at him, a comical curiosity reflecting back to him.

"I, uh…" he stuttered a bit, shaking his head to focus on the present instead of the past pleasantry. He couldn't help but think this outfit was intentionally worn though. What is her trick now?

"Don't you wanna drink with me?" she tilted her head to the side, the ponytail bobbing slightly at the motion.

A drink? So soon?

"I...do..." he agreed, hesitantly.

"Okay," Tifa replied cheerfully, setting the tray down near the corner of his desk. The two drinks on her tray shook a little upon contact, but he noticed they weren't the same drink. One was in a shot glass, layered in a few colors of chocolate, mocha, topped with a white whip cream topping. The other shot was simply pink.

"What's this?" He asked, pointing to the setup. She went to him, so for now, he was gonna play along.

"Oh, I thought you might be a little thirsty...so I made you something special," she charmed him with her sparkling eyes, inching closer until she stood above him in his chair. "But, anyway, ladies go first." She reached for the layered multicolored drink, throwing it back swiftly.

In just two swallows, he watched her finish the drink, setting it back down while collecting the loose cream that covered her lips with the tip of her finger. Sucking the digit a little more than necessary, she released it with a small sigh of satisfaction, all the while keeping eye contact with him. "Mmhmm."

She was up to something for sure, remembering how she sucked so hard on that tiny red fruit last night. Looking at the other drink for a second, he met her scarlet red eyes again, still alluring as she smiled down at him. And he was determined to figure out how she was going to play with him today. "How was your drink?"

"Sweet and creamy," her voice ringed like velvet as she answered him, placing her hands on both arms of his chair as she leaned into his personal space.

Successfully, she had him trapped, as well as plenty turned on. Tifa didn't make contact as his elbows were only on the arms of his chair, his hands in his lap. But her breath tickled the tip of his nose with how close she was, her crimson eyes in a complete blaze of passion as she stared at him. The corner of her mouth lifted before she spoke again. "Don't you wanna know what it is?"

Somehow, the way she asked him made his pants just a little tighter. Seriously, she just had a shot of basically cream in front of him, while wearing a crop top and flimsy black skirt. That's it, and already he wanted to haul her over his shoulder and have his way with her on his bed. Covering her perfect skin in hot kisses, making her moan into his mouth as he made her come again.

Oh yeah, today for sure he would kiss Tifa Lockhart, drink or no drink. He wasn't going to make that mistake again. But for now, he'll just be a willing participant in her little game. Playing along, he did what she wanted by asking her desired question, "what was the drink?"

The barmaid began leaning in. For a second he thought she was going to capture his mouth in a kiss this time, taking control. But she didn't. Instead, she used her lips against his ear to send an electric wave down his spine, her hand rubbing the front of his pants. Her intentions were known right then and there, but it seemed more like a dream she would choose to do this, rather than a game.

"I made a 'Blow Job'," she said as she grabbed his belt buckle, trying to begin to unfasten the buckle with one hand. "Just for you."

A 'Blow Job' shot? he closed his eyes. Cloud concentrated on the scent of her hair, but the smell only stiffened his cock more. This is why she had her hair up. This all seemed too good to be true, but if this is how she wanted to play, he'd let her. Maybe it was the time apart, but his erection was pinned against his zipper that she finally undid, making him release a groan more loudly than he intended. His excitement was plain, earning a chuckle from her as she pushed the impending article of clothing down his legs.

On her knees already, he could tell as her breasts brushed against his bare knees. She was still dressed though. I guess this is what she meant by 'ladies first'... he mused, wondering what she had in mind for his turn. But for now, she was in control.

Curling her slender fingers around his length, he leaned his head back against the chair while she stroked. Determined and direct, she was driving his urge thoroughly with each pump. It was the first time in a long time, she had touched him this way. She stroked until she stopped her hands at the base of his cock, circling her tongue around the slit that held his pre-cum. Tifa licked every drop, eagerly as she squeezed him a little to taste more.

"Nngh," Cloud groaned at her teasing.

Keeping her lips firm, she began to slowly engulf him inside her mouth, her tongue twirling around his shaft before taking him deeper. She moaned against him when she began bobbing her head, the vibration emanating along his nerve endings. He looked down, seeing her move up and down his dick with a swift assault. The blond felt like he was losing his mind, wanting to thrust himself deep into her throat, but he couldn't do that to her. She wanted to play with him this way. Whichever way Tifa wanted, he was game. After last night, he had to be…

Gripping the arms of his chair instead, he groaned again as he was at her mercy with her wet mouth. Tight. Warm. Perfect as she sucked him into this new game between them.

One last swirl around his sleek shaft, and she released her mouth, stroking him still in its place. The sounds of her hand at work was sweet, reminding him of how the noise her vagina makes when he's screwing her hard. Sapphire met ruby, intense with passion and urgency. Her cheeks were hued with a blush, glistening with sweat and saliva from her pleasuring him, and her lips appearing more plump from being swollen. She looked beautiful, all because she was fucking him with her sweet mouth.

Laving her lips with her tongue, she engulfed him down again, coiling her pert muscle around his glans. The sensation was deeper, her hand fully wet and moving with the motion of her mouth. She took him fully in and out, moaning while she sucked on his dick. His body trembled when her teeth softly scraped against his shaft, clenching his fists tightly into the chair, his breathing began to release in louder puffs.

Holy Ifrit!

"Tifa!" Cloud clenched his jaw, his balls tightening at her relentless efforts. The pleasure was becoming too overwhelming, the aching tension he couldn't hold in anymore as she worked his cock. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! I'm gonna come."

Without a pause, she raised her impassioned eyes to his to welcome permission to do just that. Her desire and invitation to swallow his seed was always an erogenous offer, as her eyes held a heated dominance to taste him. Giving in, his groan was low and throaty as he arched his back, releasing his load into her mouth. She didn't stop sucking, as if she was enjoying every last drop he was currently giving her.

Slowly, she withdrew, giving him a sly smile before standing up. Leaning against the edge of his desk, she pulled the tray over slowly. "It's your turn for a drink."

Even though he was thoroughly sated, the drink she offered perked his curiosity. In fact, in the waves of ecstasy, he had almost forgotten about his turn. "Oh?"

"Oh yeah. You'll wanna taste this one," she flirted heavily, handing him the drink with a wink.

Not wanting to break the spell, he didn't question her offer and took the glass from her hands.

"If you say so," and with that, he took his shot, tasting the sweet light pink liquid it held. There were a few fruit juices mixed in, but he couldn't piece together the choices of alcohol used. However, it was exotic and smooth, and he took every last drop like she wanted him to.

Tifa giggled when he set the glass down next to her on the tray.

"Do you like my 'Wet Pussy' shot, Cloud? You can have more if you're thirsty enough," she teased him, laying heavy emphasis into the name. He was a little taken aback, from not only the explicit name, but her overall forwardness. Getting down on his knees, he pushed the chair further back to make room for himself. Cloud was ready to do his part, placing his hand tentatively on her knee.

The fighter lifted the edge of her pleated skirt, her vermillion eyes darkened with desire when their gazes met. Seeing that fire spark in her eyes like the night before, he wanted to keep that flame going. She was his aphrodisiac in this new sport between them.

He smirked after pulling up the front of her skirt, finding once again she was wearing the slitted panties from the night before. Tifa was getting more salacious in her drinks, the way she presented them too, but he wasn't screwing up this time. He could feel the veil of her eyes on him when he spread her legs wider, taking in the sight of her smooth petals and perfect nub, wet and waiting for him. It was evident to him that her giving oral started her own arousal. He was the same way, as hearing her come always turned him on too.

Cloud started out teasing her, slowly licking his broad tongue over her opening a few times. Upon first contact, she hissed in pleasure, both revelling in this moment since they both haven't experienced this sensation in a long time: her being tasted this way. So he took his time, making it a worthwhile wait for the both of them.

Parting her damp folds, he began flicking his tongue over her clit, pushing his fingers inside. There wasn't much resistance, but the heat clenched tight around his digits as he eased his way in. It was wonderful, feeling and indulging in her flavor up close. Tifa was simply more intoxicating than that 'Wet Pussy' shot she made for him, this being the real and far better deal. Pushing his face further between her thighs, he frenziedly lap at her clit, all the while providing stronger strokes with his fingers inside her.

"Ohhh Cl-cloud…," she shuddered, her hips bucking a bit at his eagerness. Her verbalization only increased his efforts, twisting his face side to side as he licked her up. One leg dangled off the side of his desk when he hooked his arm under it, while the other barely touched the floor in front of him. Tifa let him, gripping the wooden edge to balance herself. Curling his arm around, he put pressure on her oversensitive clit with his thumb, running his tongue up and down her center.

Tifa's only response was a low moan, her free hand feathering through his hair as he feasted. But he wasn't ready to undo her just yet. He wanted her to come a certain way, and he would get her there slowly. Swirling his tongue around, he worked his fingers with a more frantic force.

"Ahhh, yeesss," the barmaid breathily uttered, gripping his locks tighter. Her nectar was getting stronger and sweeter; the painful pull in his hair, all of it hinted he was much closer to where he wanted her. "I...I wanna come on your face."

I want that too, he thought, lapping her folds vigorously, enticing her further with cries of pleasure. Each noise she made got his cock harder in turn, especially voicing her inner desire just now. He felt her clothed leg tightened against his back, her hand pushing his face against her slick vagina with great need. Circling his thumb over her nub, he caressed her core with his pert muscle, curling his fingers inside. He was beckoning her release, sucking and releasing just below her clit, thrusting deeper inside her.

Whimpers were tumbling out of her mouth, her hips pushing forward from pure instinct for more pressure, and he was there lapping up her juices.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Tifa gasped, heady and loud as she bent towards him. She was fucking his face with her pussy, and he loved he got her this way in their game. Wet and wild between her legs, coming apart, with her tangy cunt on his face.

"Cloud!" She cried his name, writhing under his assault.

Her essence began to coat his tongue, claiming his mouth as he drank her bliss. He groans, savoring everything about her; sweet, intoxicating, and smooth like honey. Mmm. Delicious.

He loved the way she tastes.

Tifa went limp against the desk, and he could hear labored breathing slow down. She smoothed her hand through his hair softly, contently sighing. Still caught up in the throes of her orgasm, Cloud kissed her inner thigh, then rose to nip the mole on her abdomen. She giggled under the sensation of his lips, her hand moving to his shoulder to playfully push him back. But not too far, her hand anchored his shoulder, keeping him near her. Her cheeks were flushed, lips slightly parted as she gazed at him amorously.

Beautiful.

She was always beautiful after the orgasms he gave her, looking at him with love.

He felt compelled to have his lips on her again, nuzzling her neck this time. His erection was strong from giving her pleasure, and he didn't want to stop. These drinks were meant to be an ice breaker for them, not a start and stopping point. It's why she made them for him.

No more games.

"Tifa…" his lips brushed behind her ear, kneading her thighs with his bare hands. He smiled when he felt her shudder under his sensual touches.

"Hmmm," she hummed into his ear, trailing her fingers up his back, caressing his cheek with the other. "You want more?"

"Yeah, I do," he admitted, pulling away to meet her eyes head on. They blazed with the same dark passion from earlier. Her lips, overall inviting. She willingly wanted more, giving him another chance to not screw up like he did the night before. There was no trick when she came to his room today.

She just wanted to be kissed. This whole time, by him.

He wants to kiss her, to show her the way he feels without words. But he also wants her again, this time pounding into her with a burning need on his desk while her legs are wrapped around his hips. Hear her cry out his name again as they come together. Going down on her always had his dick throbbing hard for her in the end. Overall, his carnal desire for her was inflamed once again.

Making his move, he went to lean in for a kiss, but was stopped midway with two fingers pressed against his lips. He blinked, confused.

Her carmine eyes just twinkled back.

This is what she's been wanting, right?

"That's just...too bad," she taunted with a smile. Using a little force, she pushed him back as she stepped down from the desk, inevitably closing the invitation she presented. The skirt covering her risqué underwear. "You already fulfilled your part today."

"What?" he asked incredulously, feeling the ache below. She wouldn't do this to him, not now...

"We did exactly what the drinks were, nothing more. Isn't this how we are to play our game now, Cloud?"

She would!

Tifa just played him!

She giggled when she noticed his manhood, but she quieted down when he icily starred back. But her knowing smile never relented. This whole thing was a setup from the beginning, and he knew it was too good to be true at first. But he got carried away by her, just as she knew he would too.

Grumbling, he grabbed his pants, pulling them up carefully since he was still pretty hard for her, but he felt like a fool standing here, ready for her, and she just turned him down for pure revenge.

"You played me?" he asked, feeling a little jaded from all the teasing. His girlfriend always enjoyed that he got off going down on her, and was now using it against him. But this is not how he expected things to end once they got started.

"I'm just...following the rules," she replied, feigning innocence in her act. Tifa was playing even harder to get now. At fault on his part from the night before. She was really making him pay now...

Damn it.

"I think we need to talk about this little game," he gritted his teeth. At least he didn't leave her sexually unsatisfied last night. Even though he knows she just wants a kiss. And he was going to give it to her just now, until she threw the game logic he used on her in his face.

"No time for that, I'm afraid. I need to shower before work," she responded, but didn't sound too disappointed as she grabbed her tray with the shot glasses on it. "But don't worry, I'll leave plenty of cold water for you."

Oh ho ho ho! Funny! Him? Taking a cold shower? He glared back as his cock throbbed. He wanted more, needed more. She knew he did, and was going too far in payback. Too far while looking positively sexy while stubborn.

"Tifa, this isn't fair. I would never leave you...like this."

She laughed heartily at his frustration, fanning her face a little. "My, my, my! Can't handle a taste of your own medicine, can you?"

"Tifa—"

"I'll see you later, Cloud," she cut him off, her fiery eyes filled with a comical dominance. Tray tucked under her arm, she left his office with a suanter to her hips. She had won this round, but with a rather low blow.

This wasn't the end of their game. He'll get another chance with Tifa...somehow.

Author's Notes Continued: Oh, Tifa got him good. Considering the events from the last chapter that was built up over months of sexual frustration, Cloud got his own medicine after throwing the rules in her face. It's a whole new game...with sex.

Anyway, the name "The Blow" is for two reasons. Haha, get it? I wonder what Cloud is gonna do next…