Search Results: she wants me to initiate the next step

So me and this guy have been having a thing for about a month now. We've both said that we really like each other and we spend quite a lot of time together, but I don't know where things are going... We flirt constantly and I can tell he really likes me but I don't know whether to make the first move or wait for him to initiate something.

I found out through a mutual friend that he's not very experience relationship-wise so I don't know whether he's just being shy around me in regards to starting a relationship or whether he wants something to happen soon.

So I was just wondering whether I should take the next step and initiate the first kiss, even if I just kiss him on the cheek - or whether I should wait for a bit and see what happens...

We've been flirting for months and things have gotten really tense lately. Is he pulling away from me because he's scared of taking the next step? I love him and he knows this. He's said it to me too, even though we say we're just friends. I feel like we're at a fork in the road and he's not sure which side he wants.

If he's withdrawing, should I act normal but back off? Should I just ignore him? I think that might seem childish. I'm not going to talk to him about this because I don't want to seem needy but it's taking all my strength to not have it out with him!

Today he hit me gently and said it was hit a pretty kid day. Then I try to hug him because we were leaving and he hadn't hugged me yet. He gives me a what do you want look but still gives me a nice, not just friends, hug. Tight, squeezing, went on too long, rubbing arms, lingering touch when it was ending, etc.

Can anybody please tell me what's going on with him and what I should do or not do? I'll just back off if that's best but I have no clue!