Is he stringing me along or just being careful?

I started seeing a guy about four weeks ago. He is 45 and I am 30. Well we hit it off and I reallt like him. When I asked him what he said.he doesn't want a relationship RIGHT now. He said he wants to take it slowly and see where this goes. He was married for twenty years and a few months ago was involved with a 24 year old who was talking marriage and kids right away. He said it was really intense really fast and she ended up hating him. He even said to me several days ago that I think he's nice now but I'll probably end up hating him like the rest. Now on the one hand it feels like he's just been burned and he wants to take it very slowly until we get to know each other and I'm okay with that. I understand that. But then he used the word "casual" and I know what casual usually means. I mean when I am with him he definitely doesn't treat me like a casual fuck buddy but that word threw me off a bit. Isn't saying you want to see where aomething goes and saying you want it casual a complete contradiction? Maybe I'm over thinking it but I don't know.what to do. I like him and what happens if I continue to see him and catch feelings when he never had any intention of catching feelings? My heart says he's just scared like I am because he talks to me a lot and has already opened up some. Would he do that if he just seen me as a piece of ass? Need advice.

I think you should take things slow and see how it go but you have to be prepared for the worst you can't allow yourself to fall to fast. And yes, he could possibly just be opening up to you a little just to get some.