They way you talk about her in your post suggest genuine feelings and not some creepy desire to get in the pants of a teenager, so her being 17 and you being 26 shouldn't matter at all. A meeting of the minds doesn't require age or social conformity, just the complicity and agreement of the two people involved. You're not breaking the law, you're both old enough to make your own decisions. As has been pointed out, large age gaps are not uncommon. My gran and grandad were married for 50 odd years ( until he died ), and there was a 15 year age gap between them.Honestly, your posts just come across as you trying to find reasons not to go down a path you clearly want to go down. You're basically making **** up to justify not following through. If the feelings involved are mutual, if you make each other happy, then what the hell is the problem? Fear? Lack of self-confidence? Obsessions with what everyone else thinks rather than your own well-being? Whatever it is, just get on with it. I'm 27, and if I were in your position, and certain that what I was thinking and feeling was genuine, I'd totally go for it providing the feelings I had were reciprocated.