Perhaps if he can find more cloth to wrap it in, or a jar or something to put it in, he'll let her hold it. Until then, well, little fingers will find the gaps between the cloth more easily and get burned.

"No, it's okay! It's not a big deal if it gets a little wet." He doesn't want her falling and getting all wet just to help him out -- and having to fish her out of the water would defeat the purpose of keeping his sleeves dry in the first place. As it is, since the cuff is still buttoned, the sleeve somewhat resists her attempts to pull on it.

"So you said you had a friend made from an eyelash, right?" He returns to the topic to try and distract her. "Is that from your papa's cloning?"