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.

after all, in a decade of

solidified over ten years, even if the initial passion had mellowed compared to the fiercely intense

once had had added enchantment to their love. But now, breathing each other's air day in and day out, any fiery passion had

really connected in quite a

the chill of the Arctic, they were always on guard against external threats, and their physical needs

Jasper, Stella suddenly felt the

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

was still in shape, his abs firm under her

they'd been intimate, and Jasper was notably eager,

between Rosie and the nosy neighbors, every little sound

abstinence, Stella

it took her quite a while to

emerged from the room, it was

had transformed from a delicate blossom

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

while the second, Hugo, had Snowflake's cool and aloof eyes. The mixed-breed puppies were strikingly

in the Arctic had become more peaceful. A few other families

keeping to

the closest living over

the snow, leading to a peaceful

shared her patrol observations, "Bro, sis, the folks in the white robes seem to be cozying up with the Russians. Just saw one of them riding a snowmobile

quickly. They carried an air of entitlement and

one had

either blanketed in snow or whipped by

all the ingredients needed, and Stella helped her gather

afternoon baking the cake and whipping cream, eventually

the air with a delicious scent, but thankfully, due to the distant neighbors and

casual for so long, but sometimes

applied light makeup, and styled her hair. Her body was

Jasper unable to take his eyes off her, and even

who had never seen Stella all dolled up, was amazed,

if Stella had transformed into someone else,

out of his daze, said,