I told him I loved him (I know, smack me). He said he knows I do.
Ok, I'll smack you! They know we love them, he told you himself, so don't say it again, ok? Also, don't ask him to say "I love you" back because right now he doesn't feel it. I am not saying he doesn't love you, but MLC is all about feelings and right now he doesn't feel it. Does that make sense? You asking him to do that is just putting pressure on him and is going to push him further away. Besides which, he is right, wouldn't you rather hear him say it and know that he means it? Otherwise it's just words.