Difficult man..

This man that I've been dating on and off for a over a year is a great guy, but he has commitment problems. I really love him, and I absolutely love spending time with him, but I just don't understand him. He told me yesterday that he loves me, and I told him I love him too... I knew he loved me before he told me, because I could feel it... But for some reason it was hard for him to say it. Anyway... We both love one another a lot, we care for one another... But we are not in a relationship? I don't understand him. He says he would eventually hurt me if we were in a relationship, and that's not his motive. I want to have a family and kids, in the next few years, ideally with him, but he's making it difficult. I have no interest in dating other people. I told him a few weeks ago I never want to see him again, because I thaught that might be the best way to get over this, but the truth is I can't stay away from him and I don't want to. Any input?