What to do when a guy said "I want you"?

The sentence itself rarely tells you much on its own. What tells you something is what he was doing right before it. If the conversation had been playful and back-and-forth, "I want you" is probably him stepping out of the banter to be sincere, and that tends to mean he's more invested than he was an hour ago. If the thread had gone quiet or turned into logistics, the line might be an impulse, something he typed after a drink or a long day, and he may already be wondering if he sent it too early.

Look also at what he asked for, if anything. Someone who wants you is usually still curious about you, so a follow-up question in the same message is a good sign that he's still engaged in you as a person and not just in the feeling. Watch for whether he's describing something specific about you or talking in generalities. Specific praise means he's been paying attention. Vague intensity can mean the feeling is running ahead of the knowing.

None of this is a verdict. It just shapes what kind of reply will feel right when you send it.

The first kind is the warm and honest reply. It says the line landed and tells him one true thing about how you feel: you like him, you're flattered, you're interested in where this goes. It should be short, specific to something he's said or done, and free of any commitment you haven't made. You can tell a draft is this kind when it sounds like you talking and it names a real feeling without a promise attached. Leave out any mention of the future and any demand that he explain himself.

The second kind is the curious reply. It treats his line as an opening and asks him something back, usually about what he meant or what he's noticed. This works well when you're intrigued but not sure yet. A draft is this kind when the main thing it does is ask. Leave out your own declaration, because the point is to hear more from him before you commit to anything.

The third kind is the slow-down reply. It acknowledges the line, says you want to take things at a pace that suits you both, and keeps the conversation alive. This is for when the feeling is faster than yours. It should not sound like rejection or a lecture. Leave out anything that reads as a scolding for moving quickly, and avoid vague disclaimers that make him feel he did something wrong.

If he sent the line late, don't feel pressured to answer in the same hour. A reply sent the next morning, once you've actually thought about it, almost always reads better than a fast one that rushes to keep up with the mood. Answering promptly is fine when the timing feels natural, but a delayed reply that's warm and clear beats an instant one that hedges.

If you wait a day or two and get no reply from him, don't read it as a verdict. He may be nervous he overshot, or just busy. One short follow-up a few days later, keeping things light and easy, is reasonable. Something like a question about his week works. If that also goes unanswered, let it rest. Silence after a line like this often means he's taking his own reaction back, and chasing it will only make both of you feel worse.

Stop when the conversation has real signs of pulling apart: he changes the subject sharply, gets noticeably colder, or starts apologizing for the line. At that point the most useful thing you can do is let him save face.