It's not really all that weird, biologically, there's nothing wrong with you. The reason for legal protections on those ages is because of lack of emotional and mental development, not lack of physical development. So considering this is your wife, and she is no longer actually that age, I'd say she's over-reacting more as a result of social conditioning than out of having a legitimate reason.

Your wife needs to lighten up. Sheesh I mean its her.

I don't see how someone could genuinely be offended at being complimented... she took it the worst possible way and that's unfortunate, but the best thing to do here is just to move on and not mention it again. she seems staunchly and stubbornly against this (albeit irrationally) and there's no changing that.

I don't know, some girls develop slower than others. Depending on what year of high school it was and how much she's matured physically since then - I'd find it a bit weird too to have someone use the word "sexy" to describe my teenage self if they met me well after high school. If y'all met in your mid to late 20's, she could look A LOT different, in which case it might come across as you lusting after someone you didn't know who is also a teenager. I still think she'd be overacting to hold it against you if you explain your reasoning and that's the only twinkle of weirdness in your life. But yeah, I probably wouldn't use "sexy" to describe any teenager when you're an adult, as a tip. X) Beautiful, sure. Sexy - not so much.

I'm guessing it has more to do with she doesn't look like that anymore, she finds you salivating over what she's no longer got.