How do you find a balance between flirting & respect?

I met this guy from out of town and we send a lot of texts back & forth. They have gotten extremely flirty & definitely beyond my comfort zone. I'm totally interested in him but I just don't want to take it to that place yet. I guess I want to be respected and not viewed as another play thing. Most of the guys I meet go straight for the physical connection---shoot all of them do. I just want to be viewed as girlfriend material & not a toy. It's not like I act or dress like a tramp either. So I just don't get it.