My boyfriend has had some type of trouble in the past with love. I told him ILY and he basically freaked.?

We''re approaching 6 months and basically live together. It's a VERY sensitive subject for him and I don't want to pressure him into saying something false to make me happy. I've fallen for him and it kind of hurts knowing I adore him, and he doesn't feel the same way about me yet, How I can I give him the time he needs without being pushy?