I use to feel that way about communication and relationships; my T had to talk to me, start the conversation, etc. I didn't know how to turn that around and be in charge of my own process, to start anything from "Me".

I would use the hug as a "symbol" and talk to your T about it. Tell him you would like something tangible, like a hug, but don't intend to ask him for that because you figure he will say no and you understand that; it's not what you actually want but more something "like" that.

Maybe you can buy a heart pillow or something; my T taught me to check my heart and a good friend, a potter, made me a container in my favorite color with a checkered heart on top :-) I put important (to me) little things in it, like a child would a treasure chest or a bride in years gone by a trousseau, etc.

But I would find something tangible that you like that could symbolize this "thing" you wish you had or that T would give you. I had a tiny bear that was important to me and I gave it to T to "hold" until I asked for it back. It was like I'd given a piece of myself (the bear's name was "Queen's Knight" and he was my "protector" :-) and working with the symbolism and how I felt (I felt I had to be especially brave and honest and work as hard as I could as my T had control over my protector and could hurt him! :-) was very useful to me in therapy.