18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 505

Back in the day, when Stella and Jasper were just friends skirting around the edges of something more, she was pretty resistant to getting involved with anyone. Looking back now, she couldn't quite wrap her head around how Jasper had managed to stick around through all her hesitations.

It was wild to think that it had already been ten years since the disaster turned their world upside down.

These days, Stella's only company were her three furry friends: Jasper, Rosie, and Cooper. Jasper had been a constant through a decade filled with countless heartbreaks and losses.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Stella found herself tearing up.

Jasper, surprised, asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"

She'd just turned another year older, that's all.

Stella never fussed much about her wardrobe, always choosing comfort over style —after all, in a post-apocalyptic world, standing out too much was a bad idea.

But when it came to skincare, she didn't skimp. She had access to all sorts of face masks, creams, and luxury beauty products, and she used them liberally. So, at thirty, she still looked remarkably young, though not quite as fresh-faced as she did at twenty.

It wasn't until they got together that Jasper realized how much women could worry about their age. But he never cared, always telling her, "Stella, everyone gets older. Whether it's ten years or twenty, I'll be right here with you, growing old together."

His words always brightened her mood.

Over time, Jasper had changed too. Stella had always been drawn to his looks, and while he had matured from a fresh-faced young man to a more seasoned one, he had become like a fine wine-less fresh but rich in character.

The way they looked at each other had grown more intimate, a love deepening with every shared moment.

Gifts? Whether they were things Jasper had stockpiled or items they'd scavenged over the years, they all ended up in their cozy haven, Arcadia.

These days, Jasper was as clean as a whistle, financially speaking.

But a decade of sharing a bed had seen both their emotional intelligence and resilience grow.

In a smooth move, Jasper pulled Stella onto his lap and with a playful tilt of his hips, he teased, "Your gift is right here, haven't you noticed?"

Stella almost burst out laughing.

The cheeky guy was getting smoother by the day.

all, in a decade

if the initial passion had mellowed

now, breathing each other's air day in

they hadn't really connected

the ocean of despair, living with the chill of the Arctic, they were always on guard against external threats, and their physical needs had

Jasper, Stella suddenly

waist, she quipped, "Let me check the goods.

shape, his abs firm under

they'd been intimate,

soundproof, and between Rosie and the nosy neighbors, every

abstinence, Stella wasn't holding

and it took her quite a while to catch her breath

the room,

Stella had transformed from a delicate blossom into

with three little ones slowly crawling

eyes. The mixed-breed

fell, life in the Arctic had become

all keeping to

closest living over

made from the snow,

seem to be cozying up with

burned through supplies quickly. They carried an air of entitlement and gravitated

stay safe, one had to

was either blanketed in snow or whipped by fierce winds, Rosie decided to make a

ingredients needed,

spent the afternoon baking the cake and whipping

scent, but thankfully, due to the distant neighbors

for so long, but sometimes a touch of

and styled her hair. Her body was toned from constant exercise, with not an ounce of extra fat around

take his eyes

who had never seen Stella all dolled up, was

as if Stella had transformed into someone else, her beauty

snapping out of his daze, said, "Sit