Why cant he just say sorry?

My boyfriend and i have arguments, sometimes stupid stuff, sometimes big stuff, sometimes my fault, others his... so why is it that he will never say he is sorry first? He will say it after i say it. But if i don't say it, it just never gets said... he will act like he feels bad & he will be affectionate, and hug and kiss & stuff when we are done arguing. He said he is showing me he is sorry by his actions, and that is more important than the actual words... what do u think?