From Popp's perspective, he has somehow managed to fool a woman who is way out of his league into thinking that he is a decent, reliable human being. Maybe if he keeps fooling people he can fool himself one of these days, that's the end goal. He's not going to not enjoy it while it lasts! His heart rate picks up when she gets even closer, and closer?!

He freezes up, not believing his luck, his brain might have converted to pure jelly for a moment from just one soft touch from someone who appreciates him-

And then the burning kicks in, which feels like it could be, like, a tingling emotional reaction for about half a second and then really, really can't be anything but dragon breath?! He yelps and throws himself backwards and away. He'd be angry if it was someone he expected an attack from, but right now, he just looks like a wide-eyed young man who's been hurt.