3 months without kissing

I (24F) have been dating my boyfriend (28M) for [Insert Time, e.g., 3 months]. He is truly the perfect guy in every way—kind, attentive, and we get along great. However, this is his first relationship, and the physical aspect is move-at-a-snail's-pace slow.

Currently, all we do is hold hands, and I had to be the one to explicitly suggest it before he finally did it. I really like him and don’t want to lose interest, but the lack of physical escalation is starting to feel more like a friendship.

I know he’s inexperienced, so I want to be patient, but I also need him to start taking some initiative so I don't feel like I'm "managing" our intimacy.

How do I talk to him about this without making him feel pressured or embarrassed?