Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 105: Ryan’s Hard-Earned Victory

Chapter 105: Ryan’s Hard-Earned Victory

The night air in Tokyo carried a distinct charm—a mix of cool city breeze, faint floral notes from cherry blossoms, and the distant hum of neon lights buzzing in the skyline.

The city was alive, but their suite?

Their suite was a private retreat, a world away from the buzzing metropolis.

And Ryan planned to make full use of it.

He was a patient man.

Well—debatable.

He was patient when it came to negotiating high-stakes divorce settlements. He was patient when waiting for the perfect moment to strike in an argument.

But when it came to Ava Lee?

Not a damn chance.

So, when Mei had successfully sabotaged his plans for alone time just now, Ryan decided—no more interruptions.

Tonight? He was winning.

---

Unfortunately, first came the obligatory dinner with Mei and Harold.

The private dining room at their hotel’s top-tier restaurant was elegant, filled with warm ambient lighting and the comforting aroma of Japanese cuisine.

But Ryan had absolutely zero interest in the food.

His only focus? Getting through this meal as quickly as humanly possible.

Ava, of course, saw right through him.

"Relax," she teased, sipping her sake slowly, dragging out each movement just to torture him.

Ryan shot her a pointed look. "Oh, now you want to take your time?"

Ava smirked, deliberately picking up a piece of sushi at an agonizingly slow pace.

"You’re cute when you’re impatient," she mused, popping the sushi into her mouth.

Ryan huffed. She was enjoying this too much.

Mei, meanwhile, was having the time of her life.

"You know, Ryan," she said, giving him a too knowing look, "it’s important to build patience in relationships."

Ryan turned to her, deadpan. "You literally spent years trying to force Ava into matchmaking overnight."

Mei sipped her tea, unbothered. "And look at her now—thriving."

Ava made a dramatic flourish with her chopsticks. "Look at me. A success story."

Ryan rolled his eyes. He was outnumbered.

But fine. He’d play along.

For now.

After what felt like an eternity, Ryan finally pushed back his chair, stretching.

"Well," he announced, standing up, "as much fun as this has been, I think Ava and I are calling it a night."

Ava blinked. "We are?"

Ryan gently grabbed her wrist, tugging her up with him. "Yep. Very tired. Long flight. Time for rest."

Ava gave him a skeptical look. "Rest?"

Ryan smirked. "Depends."

Ava’s face flushed instantly.

Harold coughed. Mei looked far too entertained.

Ryan didn’t care.

All that mattered was finally getting Ava alone.

---

The suite was pure indulgence.

Ava had picked it apart earlier, half-mocking the ridiculous luxury, but Ryan had caught the way her eyes softened at the sight of the tatami-style sitting area, the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Tokyo Bay, and the king-sized bed that practically begged for trouble.

And now?

They were finally alone.

Ryan loosened his tie, tossing it aside as Ava stepped into the bathroom, murmuring something about needing to "freshen up."

Ryan smirked, following her.

She was not escaping him tonight.

Ava stood by the massive marble soaking tub, running her fingers along the smooth edge.

"This is insane," she muttered.

Ryan leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "It’s an experience."

She shot him a look. "Are you seriously trying to romanticize a bathtub?"

Ryan stepped closer, his hands sliding around her waist as he leaned in to murmur against her ear.

"I could romanticize a lot of things," he whispered.

Ava froze for half a second—just long enough for Ryan to take full advantage.

His lips traced slow, teasing kisses down her neck, his hands resting low on her hips.

"Ryan..."

"Hm?"

She swallowed. "We should actually shower."

Ryan smirked against her skin. "I never said we wouldn’t."

Ava huffed but didn’t push him away.

Instead, she turned in his arms, tugging his shirt open with a deliberate slowness.

Ryan’s smirk faltered, his breath hitching as her fingers trailed across his skin.

Ava tilted her head. "Something wrong?"

Ryan exhaled sharply. "You’re playing dirty."

Ava leaned in, brushing her lips along his jawline. "Always."

And then?

They stopped talking.

---

The night air in Tokyo carried a quiet hum, the distant glow of neon signs painting the skyline, and the muffled sounds of the bustling city below. But inside their penthouse suite, all of that felt like another world.

Here, it was just them.

The dim lighting cast a golden hue over the plush king-sized bed, the sleek wooden floors, and the expansive view of the city’s skyline.

Ava stood near the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a towel, still slightly damp from the shower, her skin flushed with warmth.

Ryan?

Ryan was watching her.

No pretense. No subtlety.

Just pure, unfiltered desire as his gaze slowly trailed over her bare shoulders, her legs, the way the towel clung to her curves.

She smirked. "You’re staring."

Ryan leaned against the doorway, his own towel hanging dangerously low on his hips. "You love it."

Ava tilted her head, pretending to think. "Maybe."

Ryan’s smirk deepened. "Just admit you like it when I look at you."

Ava sighed dramatically, but her smirk didn’t waver. "Fine. Maybe I do."

Ryan pushed off the doorway, walking toward her slowly—each step measured, deliberate, like he was hunting his prey.

Ava didn’t move.

Didn’t run.

Didn’t stop him.

She just stood there, heart pounding in anticipation, her body thrumming with heat.

Ryan reached out, tugging at the edge of her towel, loosening it just enough to expose her collarbone, the soft swell of her breasts.

"Drop it," he murmured, voice low.

Ava held his gaze, challenging him for a split second—before she let the towel slip from her fingers, pooling at her feet.

Ryan’s breath hitched.

Ava smirked. "Your turn."

Ryan didn’t hesitate.

His towel hit the floor in seconds.

The next moment, his hands were on her.

No space. No hesitation.

Just heat.

His lips found hers, deep and slow at first, but it quickly turned hungry, desperate—like he had been holding himself back for too long.

Ava moaned into his mouth, fingers threading through his hair, nails grazing his scalp. Ryan’s hands traveled lower, gripping her thighs, lifting her effortlessly.

She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her toward the bed.

When he laid her down, he didn’t move away.

Didn’t stop.

His lips trailed down her neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone, down to the curve of her breast.

Ava arched into him, gasping when his mouth closed around her nipple, tongue teasing, sucking, biting just enough to make her whimper.

"Ryan—"

He hummed against her skin, moving lower, his breath hot against her stomach as his hands gripped her thighs, spreading her open.

Ava’s pulse raced.

"Patience, sweetheart," Ryan murmured, pressing a slow kiss just above her hip. "I plan to take my time."

Ava’s fingers tightened in his hair. "I hate you."

Ryan smirked against her skin. "No, you don’t."

And then?

He ruined her.

The room was quiet, filled only with the sound of their uneven breaths, the distant hum of the city beyond the windows.

Ava lay sprawled across the sheets, completely spent, her skin flushed, her limbs still tingling.

Ryan lay beside her, just as wrecked, one arm slung lazily over her waist, his fingers tracing light circles on her hip.

Silence.

Then, Ava groaned.

Ryan grinned. "You okay there?"

Ava shot him a glare—one that lacked any real fire. "I hate you."

Ryan chuckled, pressing a slow, teasing kiss to her shoulder. "Still no regrets?"

Ava sighed, closing her eyes. "None."

Ryan smirked. "Good."

He rolled her onto her side, pressing his chest against her back, wrapping his arms around her completely.

Ava hummed, nestling into his warmth, letting herself relax in his hold.

For once, she didn’t fight it.

Didn’t push away.

Because this?

This felt right.

---

The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow over the penthouse suite. Tokyo was slowly waking up beyond the massive windows, but inside?

Inside, time stood still.

Ava stirred lazily, warmth surrounding her, a steady heartbeat thrumming against her cheek. Ryan. His arms were still wrapped around her, holding her against his bare chest.

She sighed contentedly, stretching slightly, her body still pleasantly sore from last night—and this morning.

Ryan grumbled in protest, tightening his grip. "Nope. Not yet."

Ava huffed a laugh. "We have things to do."

Ryan nuzzled into her hair, his voice still thick with sleep. "They can wait."

Ava tilted her head, watching him—the way his lashes brushed against his cheek, the faint smirk on his lips even as his eyes remained closed.

God, he looked good like this.

Relaxed. Hers.

She smirked, trailing her fingers down his chest. "You sure about that? Because Mei might barge in at any moment."

Ryan groaned, finally opening one eye. "You’re really bringing up Mei in bed right now?"

Ava grinned. "Aren’t you worried she’ll come knocking?"

Ryan exhaled, rolling them over in one smooth motion so that she was pinned beneath him. His smirk turned downright wicked.

"If she interrupts, I’ll handle it."

Ava arched a brow. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

Ryan leaned down, his lips hovering just over hers. "By making it very clear we’re... busy."

Ava’s breath hitched as he kissed her deeply, hands roaming—lazy but purposeful.

She melted into him, fingers tangling in his hair, her body pressing closer, craving more—

BANG BANG BANG.

Ava froze.

Ryan groaned against her mouth. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

The banging continued, followed by an unmistakable voice.

"I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE! OPEN UP, LOVE BIRDS!"

Ava squeezed her eyes shut. "Mei."

Ryan flopped onto his back dramatically, staring at the ceiling. "Of course."

The knocking grew louder.

"Harold made breakfast, and if you don’t open this door, I’m eating your share!"

Ryan side-eyed Ava. "Do we care?"

Ava laughed, shaking her head. "Not at all."

But Mei was relentless.

Ryan groaned, throwing an arm over his face. "I was two minutes away from making you scream my name, and now I just want to throw myself out the window."

Ava bit her lip, grinning. "Later?"

Ryan grinned back. "Damn right."

With a reluctant sigh, Ava grabbed a robe, making her way to the door, knowing full well Mei wasn’t going anywhere.

Chaos had arrived.

And their private moment?

Over.

For now.