I'm 24...she's 17...is it illegal to kiss her in public?

Okay here's the deal. I'm 24...will be 25 in February and she just turned 17 a few days ago. There is this girl...that I really really like. She also likes me a lot. She even says she loves me. And I kinda do too. I know I have to wait until she is 18 to have any kind of sex with her...but is it illegal to kiss her?

I know the age difference is huge but I knew several elderly couples who was 10+ years apart and was always happy with their relationship so I don't think 8 years is a huge deal.

This girl is just so amazing. She is very mature...she knows what she wants in life...we both share literally a lot of stuff in common like anime, Kingdom Hearts, Disney, a few TV shows, numerous times have been thinking about the same exact thing at the same exact time...I'm constantly thinking about her and I know she is always thinking about me too.

I just want to know what kind of stuff we can do together to the point where I won't get charged as statutory rape...she says she wants to have sex with me and that age doesn't really matter...I kinda just change the subject when she brings up anything about sex...she notices this too and says that sex is a form of showing how much we both love each other. I honestly don't know what to do. I have never liked a girl who was 17 before and I just don't know what to think. Any form of help would be appreciated. Thanks.