Steven and Dave managed to keep in contact throughout the summer, mostly through e-mails. Steven did, however, manage to call Dave at least once a week. Their conversations were usually "shoot the breeze" style, but they also talked about artistic styles, which professors to avoid, and other important aspects of campus life. Dave even managed to scan some of his sketches and paintings for Steven to critique.

Occasionally, as they got to know each other better, Dave would vent to Steven about his problems at work, his parents' nagging, and his girlfriend. It was easy for Dave to open up to Steven, because, unlike most other people Dave talked to, Steven would patiently listen and offer sound advice only when it was asked for. More often than not, if Dave needed to vent, it was about his girlfriend. First she was mad at him for going away to school and wasn't talking to him. Then she was smothering him and denying all his free time. She was too controlling, too confining and just plain annoying! By the August Civil Holiday, after discussing all possible ways of reconciling the problem with Steven, Dave had broken up with her. As September grew closer, Dave's cell phone bill had grown, but so had his friendship with Steven.

One way he was able to handle the former was by selling some of his art. His skills had improved since the March Break, partly because of Steven's advice and critiques, and partly because Dave had been drawing so much. Every couple of nights, he'd dream that he was back on the mountain; sometimes climbing, other times drawing on a new plateau. After one of those dreams, he'd awaken in the middle of the night, fingers itching for a paintbrush or a sketchpad. He'd then create for a few hours before going back to bed. Oddly enough, when he awoke the next morning, he didn't feel tired at all.

There was also a change in his subject matter. Before, he had drawn landscapes and animals. But as the summer wore on, Dave's drawings began to include more people: facial portraits at first, and then portraits that included the entire body. There were also some experiments with anthropomorphic art. On his eighteenth birthday, after a particularly intense mountain dream, Dave drew his first nude: Michelangelo's "David" On a whim, he drew the famous statue with erection. After that, it was like floodgate had been opened. Dave's drawings took on a new sexual energy, even when the subject itself wasn't sexual. He also found that, unlike most artists, he had an easier time drawing the male form than the female form.

Dave portrayed the male body so well, that he won second place in the TPM-Fitness center's spring art contest. The sketch was called "Workout Partners": two men, one coaching, spotting and supporting while the other goes through his last rep. The prize was a three-month gym membership, which Dave used every day. By Frosh Week, Dave was toned and starting to put on a bit more muscle.

Unfortunately, Dave didn't get a chance to see Steven during Frosh Week. His time was filled with orientations, official welcome parties/activities, and of course, getting piss-ass drunk at the unofficial parties. He also spent a lot of time hanging out in his dorm with his roommate, Max, and their floor mates. And then, when classes began the next week, Dave was flooded with homework, reading, assignments and research.

"Lazy artsy" my ass. Dave though, as he tried to memorize the paintings for his Art History class. That's one stereotype I don't need to worry about falling into! Even Max had more free time then me, and he's an engineering major!

He turned the page. The next painting was called "the Journey Up the Mountain." Dave grimaced. Seeing that painting reminded him of his one vision quest last year. He wanted to experience it again, but even though he had been on campus for almost a month, and he still had not gotten together with Steven. It wasn't that Dave didn't want to see his friend. It was just that he was too busy. Of course, the work was not hard. Just the opposite in fact. But it took a lot more time to do than Dave thought it would. Whenever he did his work alone, he'd glance at the clock and see that an hour had passed with barely a dent in his assignment. Oddly enough, that didn't seem to happen when he worked around other people. It was rather annoying actually. He thought about getting some help from his T.A's (of which Steven was not one,) or even help from Student Counseling Services, but the idea always slipped from his mind. He had other things to concentrate on... like working out and homework and hanging out with his friends.

With an effort, he tried to concentrate on the reading in front of him. He had finished reading most of the chapter when there was a knock at the door.

"Steven!" he said, when he answered. "This is a surprise. Come on in! How're you doing?"

"Good Dave. A lot better than at the start of the semester now that I'm used to my new job. How about you?"

"Not bad. My professors are great, but I'm having a lot of trouble with my homework. Seems like I barely get started, but then hours pass and nothing gets done."

Steven smirked. "That's because you're my mountain boy."

When Steven said that, Dave felt light headed... relaxed... The room was fading away, and the mountain was back. Dave started to climb. But then, that started to fade, and he was back in his dorm, sitting at Steven's feet.

"... Good, Dave. I want you aware for this. Grounded. I can take you back to the mountain, but for now I want you aware. Still deep, and obedient, and unable to speak unless spoken to, but aware. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Dave's eyebrows popped up in surprise. He hadn't meant to speak, but the word just popped out.

"Good boy. Now give me your secret drawings."

Dave watched in amazement as his hand reached under the bed and pulled out a cardboard tube. He handed the tube to Steven, who pulled out several pieces of sketching paper.

"Yes... Definitely ready." Steven said as he looked at the pages. "I imagine you have a few questions, so I'll try to enlighten you. First, you've been deeply hypnotized. I've been using the vision quests to talk to your subconscious mind and help you to become a better artist. Based on these drawings, I know that you're ready to reach the next stage. Do you want that Dave? To go on to the next stage with me?"

"Yes," Dave heard himself reply.

"Good. Now follow me back to my apartment. Say nothing. If people try to stop you, act normally and continue to follow me."

As they walked across the campus, Steven kept mumbling about how good it feels to be hypnotized; about how Dave can trust him completely; how open and relaxed and creative Dave must be feeling. When a few of Dave's friends waved to him, Dave simply waved back and kept following Steven, even though part of him wanted to shout out for help... but shouting for help isn't considered normal... And the more Steven mumbled about trusting and opening up, the more Dave's urge to call out diminished.

Finally, they reached the older artist's apartment. After locking the door, Steven turned to Dave. "Strip."

Blushing furiously, Dave peeled off his t-shirt. His tan from the summer was just starting to fade, but the beginnings of a six-pack and his growing pecs more than made up for it. Dave kicked off his size 12 sneakers. He was barefoot in them. His hands reached for the front of his jeans and slowly unzipped and unbuckled them. He hesitated before he pulled them down, revealing camouflage coloured boxers. There. In that moment, he regained some control. If he could just keep from removing his boxers...

But Steven had seen the hesitation. "Just relax Dave. There's nothing to worry about. You trust me. Going deeper into obedience. Deeper. No cares or fears. No need to do anything but listen and obey."

Dave's hands went up to the top of his boxers.

"That's right. It's so freeing... Not needing to think... Just listening... And going deeper... And obeying..."

Dave's fingers hooked under the elastic.

"Strip."

Dave slowly pulled his boxers down and stood at attention. He felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment and helplessness. And the small struggle to remain decent in front of Steven had exhausted and confused him. Steven was his friend! Why was he doing this? And yet, the compulsion to trust him was still there... no need to worry... just trust and obey...

"Now follow me," Steven said. He led Dave into his studio, where an easel was set up. There was also a full-length mirror. "I want you to draw yourself Dave." Steve sat down, out of the way. "Draw yourself now."

Silently, embarrassed, Dave felt his body move in front of the mirror and easel. His left hand picked up the soft pencil, and he watched as he drew himself. Soon, he became lost in the artwork, ignoring Steven's whispers of encouragement and feeling both his embarrassment and resistance drain away.

Often, he would glance into the mirror to really look at himself. Was one eyebrow slightly higher than the other? Were his shoulders nearly parallel with the ground? Had his biceps grown that much?

Like all of his artwork of late, Dave's subconscious mind charged the self-portrait with a casual but undeniable sexuality and Dave felt his body responding to it. He re-drew his nipples, so that they were pointed the way they were now. He adjusted his stance to best show off his lightly hairy legs. His uncut penis began to become hard, and the one in the picture followed suit. And there was a glean of lust in the sketch's eyes which perfectly matched the glean in his own.

As he was putting the finishing touches on the sketch, he felt someone... Steven... wrap his arms around him. A hand enclosed around his cock, which quickly grew even harder than it was. He felt something hard press into his back... Steven's cock, wrapped in a condom. "I want you to want me in you," Steven said, pumping Dave's cock gently. "You're so horny now. So needing to get off. My hand feels so good on your cock, doesn't it? My dick will make you feel even better. Do you want that?"

"Yes." Dave was too in lust to say anything else, and for once, he had full control over his answer.

Steven whispered something into his ear, and Dave found himself back on his mountain, lying on a grassy plateau. He saw Steven standing over him, naked, hard, sexy. Steven knelt down, and Dave lifted his legs up. He put them on the older artist's shoulders. Steven leaned forward. He put one slick finger against Dave's asshole.

"Relax... Let all your muscles relax... Let me in."

As Steven spoke, Dave felt him gently pressing his finger into him. He gasped. It hurt a little, but it felt good too. Steven held it, and pulled it mostly out. In... Out... In... Out... Dave found himself breathing in time with Steven's finger... Finding it easier to relax as he did so... As two fingers penetrated... in... and out... in... out... three... relaxing more... not fighting... not resisting... 'cause it feels so good... stroking in time... in... out... in... out... deeper... more and more relaxed... as the cock head pushes against Dave... in... out... relaxing... deeper... thrusting... giving in... letting me in... in... in... in...

And then the thrusting started... hitting Dave's prostate each times... making him feel so good... Feeling Steven in him... Feeling so horny... Needing release... Needing to cum... Needing to cum hard... to cum hard... cum hard now!

Dave opened his eyes. He was in a bed, lying on Steven's chest. Steven was idly and tenderly stroking his hair. He snuggled up against the older artist and grinned, eyes half closed with pleasure. He tried to say something, but found that Steven's orders not to speak still held.

"I could have just taken you, you know," Steven said softly. "I could have taken you that first day, and fogged your memories, like my master did to me. He made me seek him out, over and over, begging for him to both help me and help himself to me. But I want more from you Dave. You have the gift, and I want to help develop it. I want you to be both my protÈgÈe and my lover of your own free will. What has happened so far is only a taste of what we can do together. And if you say no, I can make it like tonight never happened. But don't answer now. Just sleep on it for a few days."

But Dave already knew what his answer would be.