"Ah, can you? Even against a man-eating dog?"

He leans a hand down to ruffle her mane and Lily rubs her face against his jeans happily, leans into the touch and eventually starts to push up to put her paws on the edge of his chair.

"Ah!" he chides gently, and taps her on the nose. She sits back down, chided and pushes her face into his lap again. Fine, fine, no paws up -- but more petting then!