<human>: Female here. We're are both in our mid 20's, known him for about four years now. Met at a friend's Christmas function, WA area. Strong instant mutual attraction (as he admitted within a day of our meeting). 

He tried starting a relationship with me right off-the-bat, I told him that I was interested but I'd have to get to know him better before jumping into a relationship. He has always been a a huge flirt with me, I was iffy at first, as I've been led on by a few men already. 

Over the past few years nothing really progressed. we'd hang out every once in a while, text and talk on the phone a lot. Then there'd be a few months with no contact, then lots of calls again. 

The problem is that after these spaces of no contact, he'd pick back up with the heavy flirting. But then the next week he'd be sort of blunt, or not put much effort into conversation. Then nothing for the next few months. What's up with that? did I ruin my chance because I was too afraid to get into the relationship right at the start?

I have developed feelings for him but I'm too afraid to tell him because with the way he talks to me I can't tell if he's flirting just to flirt, he's bored? or if he's still interested. How can I discern whether he still wants to get together? Or if he really wanted to, wouldn't he have straight-up asked me again by now? 
If I say I'm interested in dating now and he says it was all just a physical attraction/teasing/joking thing, I'd feel so dumb. Should I try hinting without outright saying it? We've admitted we're attracted to each other, but in the last few years he hasn't mentioned dating, specifically. I don't wanna regret not trying something with this, but I don't wanna end up sounding like I'm stuck on him and he was just teasing all along and thought I knew.

Can you succinctly summarize the text in 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: known guy for a few years, haven't progressed past phone flirting. Is he still interested in dating, or just being a tease because he's used to flirting with me for so long?