<human>: my boyfriend and I get along famously. we've known each other since we were 11 years old, dated once when we were 16 but it didn't quite work (I was an experienced dater, whereas I was his first girlfriend and first kiss), but since then have been best friends. 

we recently started dating this past November, after being somewhat of a physical affair for about 6 or 7 months prior to that. it was essentially a matter of time before we started dating, but we had both gotten out of relationships earlier last year, so we didn't want to rush anything to seem disingenuous about dating one another or "rebounding". 

in any case, I sort of clam up at the mention of love, loving, or being loved, and unfortunately I've sort of let him see that side of me. he's made jokes in the past about loving me, but has never seriously said a plain "I love you". I'm fairly certain it's because of how strongly I've reacted to him just joking in the past. no one would want to tell someone they love them if they're just going to stop breathing and stare at you wide-eyed and then change the subject. however, he is either silent or humorously dismissive of discussions involving how we feel about each other every time I try to talk about emotions. so, he's not exactly making me feel comfortable confiding my heartsong in him, either.  

I'm at a loss. does he joke about loving me because it's so far off from how he really feels? or too close to how he actually feels and doesn't want to be vulnerable to me? is it my fault for instilling in him my fear of being loved, due to being burned in past relationships? halp.

Could you distill the essence of the text into 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: In summary, how do I tell him I love him without him being dismissive or humorous, and without me being terrified of rejection?