Not ready to be his girlfriend, trying not to mislead him

I've been hanging out with this guy for a week and he definitely has BGF potential--best guy friend, the bff equivalent. Neither of us have had a Valentine, so I asked him to be my Valentine as friends via text. He misread that as me wanting to be his girlfriend. He asked to hang out the next day and as soon as I got in the car with him he wanted to make out. Then he started holding my hand, which isn't bad but his body language told me that there was more than just hand-holding going on. I pushed away whenever he tried to kiss me.

Let me clarify one thing, I do like him and I do trust him. He's not a bad guy at all. I don't feel violated; I feel as if I mislead him. I do want a boyfriend very badly, but I am someone who has never fallen in love. I am starting to have feelings for him and I don't want to ruin it by rushing it and doing more than I'm comfortable with. I've never had a lasting relationship, and I think he'd be someone I'd like to have one with.

How can I tell him I just want to get to know him without making out? I'd be comfortable with a simple kiss every now and then and I love cuddling, but I don't want to rush into it and feel like I need to make out with him every time I see him. How can I establish boundaries with him without making us feel like we're boxed in? I would like to do things with him eventually, just not now. Not when it's meaningless.

Advice would be greatly appreaciated!

"I do like him and I do trust him".
"I don't want to ruin it by rushing it"
"I just want to get to know him"

Your answers are within your post here.

Don't be afraid to honestly talk to him and let him know you like him, want to get to know him better and would like to take time to build that relationship.

Leo (lol or rather you) nailed it. There's no need to fear telling him how you feel, and that you don't want to rush things. If he's as good a guy as you claim him to be, he'll see that and have no problem with it. If he doesn't, I would tell you that you haven't lost a thing.

Just explain how you feel, and tell him that if/when you decide to take that plunge with him, you want it to mean something. Any good guy worth their salt will respect that and admire you all the more for it.

I would go further to tell you that you seem to me like a good person with a high set of morals. That's something you should be proud of. I would tell you that as long as you use your good judgment here, you'll be just fine.

Take care, and I hope I was of some help. I wish you the best.

I agree with the other posters DrSkipper, you need to tell him exactly what you have told us here. Although if it was me, I wouldn't say that down the road it would/could get more intimate, its way to early to think about that to be honest.

If this guy really likes you and he is worth your time, he will appreciate your honesty and allow you to take the lead in what your comfortable with in the relationship. I did that when I dated my husband, I had to set the guidelines. And there is nothing wrong with that, setting boundaries and having them respected is a good way to start a healthy relationship.

Communication and honesty goes a long way.
Open Eyes