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.

she appreciated his charm; after all, in a decade of

the initial passion had mellowed compared to the

added enchantment to their love. But now, breathing each

they hadn't really

on the ocean of despair, living with the chill of the Arctic, they were always on guard against external

by Jasper, Stella suddenly

me check the

he was still in shape,

had been a while since they'd been intimate,

Rosie and the nosy neighbors, every little

of abstinence, Stella wasn't holding

was overwhelming, and it took her quite

from the room, it

from a delicate

came wagging their tails, with three little ones slowly crawling out of their nest, now

Snowflake's cool and aloof eyes. The mixed-breed puppies were strikingly beautiful, with their chubby little bodies offering the most

Union Base fell, life in the Arctic had become more peaceful. A few

all keeping to

closest

the snow, leading to a peaceful

sis, the folks in the white robes seem to be cozying up with the Russians. Just saw one of them

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

one had

or whipped by fierce winds, Rosie decided to make a

all the ingredients needed,

and whipping cream, eventually crafting a

but thankfully, due to the distant

but sometimes a

out an elegant, sultry dress, applied light makeup, and styled her hair. Her body was toned from constant exercise, with not an ounce of extra

unable to take his eyes off her,

seen Stella all dolled

as if Stella had transformed

daze, said,