Branch's lips ghosting over Poppy's lower back is what wakes her up. Poppy's shirt must have bunched up in her sleep. The cool air on her skin isn't what makes her shiver.
It is easy to imagine the loving expression Branch must have on his face as he pulls the hem of her shirt back down.
Then, two fingers pull up her loose sleeve enough so he can press his lips to her elbow. The teal troll begins there before lifting her arm slightly while his lips kiss down her arm, all the way to the tip of her pinky.
Poppy curls her finger and glides it over his smiling lips. Earning her a huff of laughter before Branch pulls back and lays her arm back down on the blankets.
Light touches along the neckline of her shirt makes her heartbeat pick up. Branch pulls on the fabric enough to expose her shoulder, and then his lips are soft, warm, and perfect against her skin.
Just when Poppy is about to turn, to hopefully bring his wonderful lips to her own, his hand slides the neckline of her shirt back into place, but then Branch kisses her shoulder again through the fabric.
All thoughts Poppy had of shifting leave her at that. Suddenly, she is more curious to feel what else Branch will kiss if she stays like this.
One moment, he has pulled back entirely, and the next, he is brushing her hair away from her neck, and she can't help but hum happily in anticipation.
Gently, Branch runs his fingers through her hair, and then his lips are on her neck, kissing everywhere he can reach, and when he has, he slips a finger under the neckline of her shirt and stretches the fabric down. His lips instantly pressing more kisses there, so quickly that the cool air didn't even reach her skin.
When his kisses start to include teeth and tongue, The Pop Queen shivers at the feeling. Her nipples harden, and she takes his hand, the one that had been pulling on her shirt, and she brings it under her to feel it. Branch just holds her breast. Not teasing her yet.
Knowing him, this could continue for hours if she lets it; maybe it would become more, maybe it wouldn't, but either way, it is a real temptation.
But even with her eyes still closed, The Pop Queen can also guess how early it is, and a large part of her is unwilling to wake up fully yet. She just wants to sleep beside him.
"Dear, how early is it?" Poppy asks, her voice thick from sleep.
"Much too early, Poppy," The teal troll whispers. His lips leave her skin, and he settles beside her on the bed as if he knows what she is about to say.
Now she turns. Her eyes open and find his tired and loving blue eyes in the predawn light. "Come here. More sleep," The Pop Queen insists, wrapping her arms around Branch and bringing him in to rest his head on her chest.
Running her finger along the edge of his ear while Branch lets out a long exhale. His momentum and will to be awake, The Pop Queen can feel it as it leaves him.
Exhaustion follows for them both.
Pure contentment fills them as they fall asleep for as long as they have before the alarm wakes them up at a hopefully reasonable hour.