[He lets out a soft whine and instinctively reaches as she jerks away, but then catches himself, blinking hard. What the hell has gotten into him?

Whatever. Fine. He picks up his mug again just for something to do with his hands.]

Well, the point is to generate love. Affection. Whatever you want to call it. So why wouldn't it work if you were touching something inanimate that you loved? Even if it won't, it should, unless there's something we're missing.