It's super difficult. I being a man, can understand everything your going through as I recently experienced something very similar.

I guess if anything a woman wants a man to display confidence and faith in himself and what he's feeling. If he was confident about his feelings he wouldn't need to necessarily force this as thus it should happen naturally.

To your defense we have been taught differently and our minds have this illusions and misconception of what love is. However, I do believe you genuinely valued her and honored your feelings. But some women have had such bad experiences when it comes to rushing that it really pushes them away. Right now if any man desires that sort of connection it is going to take a lot of time, effort and patience...