I think you're anthropomorphizing him too much to the point you're misreading a lot of your snake's behavior as signs of "affection" which they do not have the brain capacity to do so, at least not the way you're hoping for from a mammal 's point of view.
I'm sorry to rain on your parade here but this may cloud your judgement on how to recognize stress in your snake because of how eager you are to project human characteristics on him. Not saying you are but I don't think this possibility should be ruled out.
In the end your pet your rules, you're free to believe whatever you want, but you might want to reconsider how you're perceiving things.
Maybe I am but in the end my snake is happy and that's all that really matters.