Pretty sure that relationship is dead. Stupid.
I/we forgot the first and most important rule. Love is a verb. My culture frequently obsesses over the worst question possible: "What do you want?"
Quick and obvious observation: Hunger is pretty clear form of want. Want an orange? Pull it off the tree, tear off the skin, eat it. Lucky it's an orange. You know what happens to a cow when I start getting really hungry?
I've had a few reminders recently about womens' experience, particularly as related to street harassment, rape, etc. My point: being wanted pretty much sucks. Especially if you are wanted by someone who has the power to actually do something about it.
We humans though, we need the love. We need to give it and receive it, and doing that well is just about the most useful and rewarding skill and experience a person can have.
Reminder to future-self. If you practice the whole love thing well, there is a pretty good chance that the whole "want" question will simply be replaced with joy and satisfaction. On the other hand, whether you lead or are led down the "what do you want?" path, chances are you will eat and eat until there is nothing left, and find yourself hungry at the end.