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 of scarcity,

if the initial passion had mellowed compared

now, breathing each other's air

hadn't really connected in quite a

they were always on guard against external

by Jasper, Stella

quipped, "Let me check the goods. If they're

in shape, his abs firm

a while since they'd been intimate, and Jasper was notably

Rosie and the nosy

of abstinence, Stella wasn't

was overwhelming, and it took her quite a while to catch her breath

they emerged from the

from a delicate blossom into a woman

slowly crawling out of their nest, now opening their eyes for the first

had Snowflake's cool and aloof eyes. The mixed-breed puppies were strikingly beautiful, with

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

keeping to

closest

the snow, leading

up with the Russians. Just saw one of them riding

about fifty-strong, burned through supplies quickly. They carried an air of entitlement and

had to

blanketed in snow or

the ingredients needed, and Stella helped her

the cake and whipping cream, eventually crafting a

due to the

casual for so long, but sometimes a touch of ceremony

applied light makeup, and styled her hair. Her body was toned from constant exercise, with

to find Jasper unable to take his eyes off her, and even Cooper was

had never seen Stella all dolled up, was amazed,

Stella had transformed into someone

daze,