Originally Posted by MarkTwain

Ah, now it becomes clearer. He was initiating - by trying to get you to initiate. For some reason he feared touching you in an overtly sexual way without your giving him concrete and obvious permission.

He may have been brought up to believe that it is wrong to foist himself sexually on a woman - who can say. but you can fix all that in the future.

Right now you need to take the upper hand - again!
I say give him "what for" on his birthday - make it real special I bet he will be putty in your hands. He likes to use subtlety on you, yet he only responds to full-on no nonsense sexual overtures.

Sorry to ramble on.