<human>: Can you condense the text into three sentences or less?

First time poster, I hope this is the correct subreddit for my issue.

I desire a committed and strong romantic partnership. I am an attractive, talented, intelligent, playful, spiritual, and highly caring male who has never had a romantic partnership in which I feel comfortable.

I have only had one "official" relationship in my life about seven years ago in my senior year of high school. Outside of that, all romance had either been flings or have not worked out due to commitment issues on my part, and I've been gradually learning the underlying causes for this lack of commitment.

I'd like to *befriend* potential romantic partners, because I do not intend to be with somebody romantically without first and, above all, their friendship. However, even the slightest desire to indirectly contrive a romantic relationship makes me feel shallow and disingenuous, which always hampers my efforts. That, or if the friend begins to display this intent or expectation of me to act in a certain way which aligns with how contriving a romantic partnership would or should be, I am scared away, and as a consequence, unable to further the friendship. 

Being "friends first" is a practice that I firmly adhere to, so please do not try to make this a debate over traditional verses new-age dating values. That will not help or sway me in any direction. 

Can you help me?
<bot>: I am caught in a double-bind of wanting romance to come from true friendship, but can't make friends with even the slightest expectation of romance or I feel vulnerable or I feel like an asshole or like a vulnerable asshole.