Is it normal if i am assuming my bf wants to tell me the "three words"?

My bf and I consider each other very special to one another and one of the reasons I decided to finally be his girlfriend is because there was something about us that I couldn't let go of. Now in our relationship, he describes it as each time he's with me, his feelings for me get stronger and stronger. For the last few months, he keeps saying "I really really like you" or before he said it as "I really appreciate you, you know that" or in spanish "te quiero" and then there's how he treats me so good, all these clues are like does he "love me" now but is still nervous to tell me so he backs it up by saying it like how I described it above? Not only him, but me too, except I don't tell him "I really really like you" or the spanish version. I feel special around him, I feel comfortable with him, I also do appreciate him for being with me like the way he is and overall for liking me for who I am. I don't know if this is a good idea but should I tell him the three words after having sex? I feel like there's no better way cause we'll be into it but I don't want to look like I love him due to sex. What should I do? and based on the clues I provided, does he love me?